Saudi's MbS 'rebukes' UK PM Rishi Sunak about Israel's 'heinous' attacks on Gaza

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Thursday that attacks on Palestinian civilians in Gaza were "heinous" and warned of "dangerous repercussions" should the war between Israel and Hamas expand, state media reported.

Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, made his comments during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who before visiting Riyadh met with Israeli leaders reiterating his support for Israel, but urging humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza following a full Israeli siege on the enclave.

He also"affirmed that the kingdom considers targeting civilians in Gaza a heinous crime and a brutal attack, stressing the necessity of working to provide protection for them", the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

"[He] stressed the need to make all possible efforts to reduce the pace of escalation and ensure that the violence does not expand in order to avoid its dangerous repercussions on security and peace in the region and the world."

Israel has relentlessly and indiscriminately bombarded Gaza for the 14th consecutive day, killing over 3,700 Palestinians and wounding 12,000 more since 7 October.

Among the devastating incidents was the Baptist Hospital strike -  blamed on Israel - which killed close to 500 people, drawing condemnation from rights groups and many world leaders. Israel's attacks have been carried out in retaliation for a unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel, which has killed at least 1,4000 Israelis.

Sunak and bin Salman, often referred to by his initials MbS, "agreed that the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific," according to a readout from Sunak's office.

They also "agreed on the pressing need for humanitarian access into Gaza to provide vital water, food and medicine," it said.

Sunak "encouraged the crown prince to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long term," it added.

Prince Mohammed also spoke by telephone on Thursday with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, SPA reported.

In that conversation he advocated for "strengthening international and regional efforts to stop military operations" and urged the UN to provide "safe humanitarian corridors" to get food and medical care into Gaza.

Since the war broke out, Saudi Arabia has issued a series of statements denouncing the displacement of Palestinians from their homes and attacks on "defenceless civilians" while affirming its support for the Palestinian cause.

The violence has dealt a blow to efforts by US President Joe Biden's administration to broker a deal that would see Saudi Arabia, guardian of Islam's holiest sites, normalise ties with Israel.

Last week, Riyadh had decided to "pause discussion on possible normalisation", a source familiar with that process told AFP.