The controversial statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the forced displacement of Gaza’s residents to other countries have sparked widespread anger in the region. This frustration has grown as these calls are repeatedly echoed by both Trump and Netanyahu.
Previously, Trump had only mentioned Egypt and Jordan in his remarks. However, Saudi Arabia has now entered the discussion, as he expressed his hope that the Kingdom and other wealthy Middle Eastern nations would fund the reconstruction of the devastated Gaza Strip—once the U.S. had allegedly “purchased” it.
Trump’s latest statements came just hours after Netanyahu made similarly provocative remarks, suggesting that Saudi Arabia should establish a Palestinian state within its “vast” lands.
Official Escalation
In response, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement condemning Netanyahu’s remarks, describing them as “the rhetoric of an extremist occupying mindset that fails to comprehend the significance of Palestinian land to its people.”
The statement further asserted that Netanyahu’s comments were an attempt to divert attention from “the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against our Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including acts of ethnic cleansing.”
“The Palestinian people are the rightful owners of their land; they are not intruders or migrants that the Israeli occupation can expel at will,” the statement emphasized.
The ministry also pointed out that “those who promote such extremist ideas are the very ones who have obstructed Israel’s acceptance of peace by rejecting peaceful coexistence and dismissing all Arab-led peace initiatives. Instead, they have systematically oppressed the Palestinian people for over 75 years, disregarding justice, international law, and the fundamental principles of human rights enshrined in the UN Charter—particularly the right of people to live with dignity on their own land.”
Deliberate Disregard for Netanyahu’s Position
A notable aspect of the Saudi Foreign Ministry’s statement was the absence of any official title for Benjamin Netanyahu. He was referred to only by name, omitting any acknowledgment of his position.
Saudi state-run Al-Ekhbariya TV confirmed that this omission was intentional, stating that “the very notion of a state has been stripped away from Israel.”
Guests on Al-Ekhbariya lauded the move, arguing that Netanyahu has transitioned from being a prime minister to the leader of a criminal gang that massacres Palestinians, echoing sentiments expressed by the channel.
A Green Light for the Media
It appears that the Saudi government has granted its media outlets full freedom to criticize Netanyahu’s administration. State-run Al-Ekhbariya, Al-Arabiya, and other media platforms launched an intense wave of criticism against Netanyahu.
Al-Ekhbariya aired historical statements from Saudi kings regarding the Palestinian cause, particularly from King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, who famously declared, “Even if all Arabs agreed to accept Israel and the partition of Palestine, we would not join such an agreement.”
The channel also broadcast a previous speech by King Salman, during his tenure as governor of Riyadh, in which he affirmed that “the Palestinian cause is Saudi Arabia’s foremost issue.”
Furthermore, Al-Ekhbariya described Netanyahu in stark terms, calling him a “Zionist son of a Zionist,” and declared, “The occupation has only one face, and that face is Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Meanwhile, Al-Arabiya focused on Netanyahu’s psychological and health condition, speculating that his mental state might have influenced his latest proposal to deport Palestinians to Saudi Arabia.
Al-Arabiya anchor Reem Bukhari made waves with a provocative question: “Has Netanyahu entered his ‘slaughtered rooster’ phase?”
A Rare Engagement with Hamas
Amid this Saudi media “tsunami” against Trump and Netanyahu, Arabi21 observed a rare engagement with Hamas statements.
For years, Saudi media had demonized Hamas, branding it as a terrorist organization. However, recently, outlets such as Okaz have begun reporting on Hamas’s responses to Trump’s statements.
Additionally, Asharq Al-Awsat featured comments from Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq, condemning Trump’s remarks—placing this coverage prominently on its homepage.
Hamas, for its part, denounced Netanyahu’s statements and expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s firm stance against any attempts to displace Palestinians. The movement also acknowledged the Kingdom’s continued support for the Palestinian cause.
Saudi journalist Nawaf Al-Qudaimi noted that this moment presents a strategic opportunity for Saudi Arabia to reestablish communication with Hamas, even if only on the sidelines of “Umrah during Ramadan.”
“Some Hamas leaders have long-standing ties with Saudi Arabia and have always sought to restore those relations. A Saudi response to this outreach—alongside measures such as closing its airspace to Israeli aviation—would serve as a powerful political and media statement,” he added.
Newspaper Editorials
The heightened rhetoric in Saudi media against Trump and Netanyahu also extended to the Kingdom’s newspapers.
Okaz dedicated its editorial and front page to the issue, publishing a bold headline: “Saudi Arabia Reaffirms: Palestinians Are the Legitimate Owners of Their Land, Not Intruders.”
Meanwhile, Al-Riyadh ran an editorial titled “The Kingdom’s Sovereignty Is a Red Line… An Arab and Islamic Uprising Against Netanyahu’s Remarks and a Firm Reaffirmation of Palestinian Rights.”
Similarly, Al-Madina declared in its main headline: “The Goal Is to Distract from Ethnic Cleansing… The Palestinian People’s Right Is Inalienable, No Matter How Much Time Passes.”
