Saudi Arabia officially launched a fundraising campaign for the Palestinian population in the conflict-torn Gaza Strip. The Informant247 reported.
This effort comes in response to the extensive military operation by Israel, triggered by Hamas attacks on October 7.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, contributed 20 million Saudi riyals (approximately $5.3 million) to this initiative, as reported by the state-affiliated channel Al-Ekhbariya.
Dr Abdullah al-Rabeeah, the head of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, stated that this campaign is consistent with the Kingdom’s longstanding role in supporting the Palestinian people.
It should be noted that Saudi Arabia, the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, has never recognized Israel and has maintained a strong stance in favor of the Palestinian cause, condemning recent attacks on Gaza civilians.
The conflict, which began with Hamas militants’ actions that resulted in 1,400 casualties and over 230 abductions according to Israeli officials, has since seen Israel’s extensive military engagement, including airstrikes and ground operations, aimed at removing Gaza’s Hamas leadership.
The health ministry has reported significant casualties, with 8,700 people killed, of which two-thirds are women and children.
Despite the Kingdom’s support for Palestine, public expressions of solidarity are limited due to restrictions on political speech and protests in Saudi Arabia.
Social media posts from private accounts are among the few ways through which some Saudis have conveyed their support for Palestinians.
Saudi officials were previously involved in discussions about normalizing ties with Israel, but these talks have been suspended since the conflict erupted.
“We cannot talk about supporting Palestine publicly,” said Ali, a government employee who did not want to give his surname due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“I used to pay from my pocket money to support the Palestinians during the intifada 20 years ago. Now we have been silenced and we cannot even write a supportive post on social media.”