NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, condemned the targeting of civilians, rejected calls for “the deportation of Palestinians from Gaza,” and said the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine, and its “repetitive and systematic” provocations against holy sites, have perpetuated the conflict.

Prince Faisal bin Khalid, second secretary at the Saudi UN mission in New York, also called for the lifting of sanctions and the blockade on Gaza, as well as the provision of essential humanitarian aid, emphasizing that depriving Palestinians of these basic human needs is a violation of international humanitarian law.

He was speaking at a plenary meeting in the General Assembly of the Economic and Financial Committee to discuss the “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources.”

Prince Faisal began by aligning Saudi Arabia with the statements made by Jordan on behalf of the Arab group, and Oman representing the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as Cuba speaking for the Group of 77 and China.

He expressed the Kingdom’s concerns regarding the Israeli occupation and its economic impact on the lives of Palestinians and of Syrians in the Golan Heights.

“The Palestinian cause was, and still is, the central cause for the Arabs and Muslims, and it is on top of the priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when it comes to its external policy,” Prince Faisal said.

He added that the Kingdom has consistently stood by the Palestinian people in their pursuit of their land, legitimate rights, and the establishment of an independent sovereign state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international decisions, the Arab Peace Initiative and globally recognized resolutions.

He strongly condemned unilateral measures that undermine the two-state solution, calling for an immediate halt to such actions.

Prince Faisal stressed that achieving sustainable development in the Occupied Territories is intrinsically linked to the pursuit of justice, peace and security.

A just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue is essential to fulfilling the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people and Syrians in the Golan, including full sovereignty over their lands and resources, in line with international decisions, he said.

Prince Faisal highlighted Saudi Arabia’s substantial support for the Palestinian people through humanitarian aid and development programs.

The Kingdom recently donated $1.2 billion to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and $27 million last year.

Moreover, the Kingdom backs developmental projects in Palestine through the Saudi Fund for Development, providing close to $109 million for infrastructure projects, electricity, sanitation, communication and road construction.

Prince Faisal again called on the international community to uphold its responsibility to achieve peace and sustainable development in the region.