Within hours after its announcement on Nov. 2, Saudi Arabia already collected $17 million in donations for Palestinians in war-torn Gaza, the New York Times reported. The campaign was spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's prime minister, who contributed $5.3 million.
The Saudi move comes nearly one month after the stunning Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,400 people. Hamas also kidnapped more than 230 Israelis. The Israelis retaliated with the blockade and daily bombardment of Gaza.
Dr. Abdullah al-Rabeeah of The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center said the initiative is aligned with Riyadh's well-established commitment to supporting the Palestinian people. Saudi Arabia has never recognized Israel and has long portrayed itself as a champion of the Palestinian cause.
In Saudi Arabia, there is an absence of public demonstrations in support of Palestine, unlike in other Arab nations. Public expressions of solidarity are limited.
Some individuals have turned to social media to convey their support, although political discourse is tightly controlled in Saudi Arabia, making social media a delicate platform for expressing opinions. Individuals who criticize the government often face severe legal consequences.
Last month, the Al Hilal football club shared an image of a player donning a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, although it was swiftly removed.
An anonymous government employee named Ali said: "We cannot openly express our support for Palestine. I used to contribute from my own funds to support the Palestinians during the intifada 20 years ago. Now, our voices have been stifled, and we cannot even post a message of support on social media."
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Amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, Saudi authorities have continued with scheduled events meant to showcase ongoing reforms under the crown prince's leadership, such as a significant investment forum and the first fashion week held in Riyadh.
Israel's military operations in Gaza have led to severe shortages of essential services like electricity, water and fuel, which prompted concerns from humanitarian organizations.
Before the crown prince announced his personal donation, his father King Salman had already donated $8 million. The fund drive has so far received over 60,000 donations.
Saudi Arabia condemns Hamas, but criticizes Israel's treatment of Palestinians
Before the conflict, there were efforts by Jerusalem and Riyadh to normalize their relations, with support from the United States. However, the ongoing war has raised doubts about the likelihood of an agreement between the two nations.
When Hamas initiated the conflict, Saudi Arabia condemned the violence but criticized Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
"The kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities," the government said in a statement at the time.
The U.S. has supported Israel's efforts against Hamas while also focusing on providing humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. (Related: Hundreds of American citizens are TRAPPED in Gaza, abandoned by U.S. government that’s sending money and weapons to Israel to bomb CIVILIANS.)
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has announced plans to intensify humanitarian assistance to Gaza, acknowledging that more needs to be done. The White House is also considering supporting a "humanitarian pause" to allow aid into Gaza.
Israel's airstrikes have resulted in casualties among Palestinian civilians, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting around 9,000 deaths. The U.S. has attributed the situation partly to Hamas, accusing the organization of preventing civilians from leaving Gaza and using them as "human shields."
In recent days, hundreds of civilians, including Americans and other foreign nationals, have been allowed to leave Gaza, along with injured Palestinians.
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