Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal has made a significant statement regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Speaking at Rice University in Houston, he emphasized that all occupied peoples have the right to resist their occupation, even through military means. However, he expressed a preference for non-violent methods, citing the success of civil insurrection and disobedience in bringing down the British Empire in India and the Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe.
Prince Turki Al Faisal’s remarks have drawn attention because they provide insight into the thinking of the Saudi Arabia leadership on this issue. He criticized both Hamas and Israel, asserting that there are no heroes in this conflict, only victims.
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Specifically, the prince condemned Hamas for its actions, stating that they go against Islamic principles that prohibit harming civilians. He also accused Israel of indiscriminate bombing of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the arbitrary arrest of Palestinian children, women, and men in the West Bank.
Furthermore, Prince Turki Al Faisal criticized Hamas for giving the Israeli government an excuse for its actions, allowing it to claim the high moral ground. He expressed strong condemnation for Hamas’s role in the situation, particularly its interference with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian issue.
This statement is noteworthy not only for its content but also because it represents an unusually candid expression of views from a senior member of the Saudi royal family. It underscores the complexity of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the differing perspectives on the matter.