Saudi Arabia leads Arab diplomacy as Gaza ceasefire talks stall

Egypt's President visits the kingdom and Saudi Foreign Minister holds talks with counterparts from UAE, Qatar and Bahrain

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister, discussed the latest regional and international developments and issues of common interest with his Emirati, Qatari and Bahraini fellow ministers. ReutersShow less

Saudi Arabia is holding talks with Gulf allies and hosting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi as Gaza ceasefire and hostage release talks remain deadlocked.

Mr El Sisi is meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Neom region, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to enhance bilateral co-operation as well as regional developments, including the war in Gaza, among other pressing matters.

Egypt is a key mediator in the negotiations, along with Qatar and the US.

Israel is currently studying Hamas's response to a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the hostages still held in Gaza.

This week, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer met a delegation of senior Qatari officials in Paris to discuss the deal, according to Israeli media. Reports suggested Mr Dermer said that Israel was set on a comprehensive agreement only, under which Hamas would release all of the hostages and accept Israeli terms for its removal from power. Israel has yet to provide mediators with an official reply.

Hamas has demanded that Israeli troops withdraw more than 800 metres from residential areas in Gaza, an amendment to the draft agreement proposed by Qatar and Egypt. That position came after Israel insisted on the immediate release of all 50 hostages, rejecting the phased process laid out in the current proposal.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Neom. Photo: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs / X

Hopes of a breakthrough dimmed further on Thursday as Israel escalated military operations in Gaza city, despite international pressure for restraint. The Israeli army announced the first steps of an offensive aimed at seizing control of the city, called up tens of thousands of reservists and launched heavy bombardments.

In response, the Saudi Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning Israel's actions.

"The kingdom affirms that these steps constitute serious violations of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions," the statement read. "The implementation of these dangerous Israeli plans and continued Israeli occupation authorities' crimes without deterrence have a significant impact on the security and stability of the region."

Talks with ministers

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held separate phone calls on Wednesday with foreign ministers from Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.

Prince Faisal spoke to Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qatar's Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrain.

He discussed the latest regional and international developments and issues of common interest between Riyadh and the three Gulf nations, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reported.

The talks came as French President Emmanuel Macron said France would co-chair a reconvened conference on the two-state solution with Saudi Arabia in New York in September.

Other regional concerns include fears of a renewed war between Iran and Israel. Iranian officials warned this week that war with Israel could resume at any moment, describing the current lull after June’s 12-day conflict as a temporary halt.

The comments are the latest in an exchange of belligerent remarks by both Iran and Israel since their unprecedented war. Last month, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened to respond to another Israeli or US attack in a "more decisive manner".

In June, Iran retaliated for US strikes on its underground nuclear sites by targeting Al Udeid in Qatar, the largest US military base in the Middle East.