The tightrope: Saudi Arabia's pursuit of Palestinian state amid Israeli defiance

Over the last six months, the prospect for peace between Saudi Arabia and Israel has been both tantalizingly close and frustratingly out of reach. 

Recent deliberations on peace between the two countries have raised a specter of hope for a historic rapprochement, but the ongoing conflict in Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel casts a long shadow, complicating any path to reconciliation. It has become increasingly apparent by the day that continuance of the war in Gaza will make Saudi Arabia all the more hesitant to trust any commitment Israel claims to have toward a genuine, stable and lasting peace.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made clear last November that the kingdom wants to see a “serious” peace process on a Palestinian state and an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister, has since reiterated that message and strongly criticized Israel's conduct of the war. 

Further testifying to Saudi Arabia's position post-Oct. 7, King Salman and the crown prince led a highly publicized campaign to collect donations for the Palestinians of Gaza that ultimately raised more than $165 million. Of particular note, the two leaders donated some $13 million themselves. Complementing that effort, Riyadh dispatched several aid convoys via air, land, and sea to deliver 5,795 tons of vital medical supplies and relief assistance, strongly signaling Saudi Arabia's stance on the situation.