Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Ground Offensive in Gaza City – 17 Sept 2025

Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Ground Operation in Gaza City

Riyadh, 17 September 2025 – Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing ground assault on Gaza City, calling it a blatant violation of international law and an act of collective punishment against the Palestinian people.

In a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riyadh declared that “killings, starvation tactics, and forced displacement of civilians are unacceptable and contradict all humanitarian principles.” The kingdom urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene immediately to protect civilians and to halt Israel’s operation.

The condemnation came just a day after Israel launched a large-scale ground offensive on 16 September 2025, following months of escalating conflict. On the same day, a UN Commission of Inquiry released findings accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a charge Saudi Arabia cited as it pressed the international community for swift, decisive action.

Regional reaction has been swift. Qatar described the offensive as “a genocidal war against the Palestinian people,” while several Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency UN session.

At the United Nations in Geneva, Israeli envoy Daniel Meron rejected the UN report as “false and politically motivated,” insisting that the ground operation aims solely to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure and protect Israeli civilians.

Humanitarian conditions in Gaza are deteriorating rapidly. Local health authorities report dozens of civilian deaths since the operation began, with more than 1,600 buildings and 13,000 shelters destroyed. Israeli forces briefly opened the Salah al-Din road for 48 hours to allow evacuations, but thousands remain trapped with dwindling access to food, clean water, and medical supplies.

Analysts say Saudi Arabia’s statement signals a stronger Arab consensus and could increase pressure on the UN Security Council to adopt a binding resolution, raising diplomatic stakes for Israel. The latest escalation underscores that the Gaza conflict has become not just a regional crisis but a global political flashpoint.

Saudi Arabia’s firm stance sends a clear message: the time for rhetoric is over, and immediate, concrete action is needed to protect innocent lives and restore peace.