Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Cause: What’s the Truth?

The Saudi position on the current Israeli war on Gaza and the Palestinian cause in general is a topic of much debate. This debate is not new; Saudi Arabia’s stance on Palestine has often been met with mixed interpretations, skepticism, and scrutiny from researchers, observers, and the wider Arab public since the early 20th century.

The recent Israeli assault on Gaza has reopened this issue, with many questioning Saudi Arabia’s official support for Gaza. Skepticism is especially prevalent among segments of the Arab public and Saudi opposition groups, who doubt the sincerity of Saudi Arabia’s overt support for Palestine, particularly Gaza. Speculation grew with reports of air routes supplying aid to Israel passing through Saudi airspace (1). Furthermore, Saudi Arabia’s normalization efforts with Israel had reached near-final stages before the October 2023 conflict, as noted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (2). Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of alignment with the UAE and Bahrain has fueled suspicions about the credibility of its stance on Gaza, with some Saudi media blaming Hamas for triggering the war, allegedly to derail Saudi normalization efforts and hinder U.S. diplomatic initiatives aimed at establishing an Israeli embassy in Riyadh (3).

Saudi Arabia had been awaiting a final step to complete the normalization process: a security agreement with the United States to ensure internal and external protection and ease arms acquisition. The Hamas attack disrupted but did not entirely halt this project, as Saudi Arabia remains committed to normalization when conditions are suitable, possibly depending on Gaza’s fate after the war.

The Israeli offensive, which has included indiscriminate killing, infrastructure destruction, and violations of international law, has reportedly shocked Saudi leadership, which was just steps away from open normalization with Israel. This occurred as the United States, under Joe Biden’s administration, met Saudi demands on arms and protection, expecting Riyadh’s public recognition of Israel in return. Despite decades of secret cooperation with Israel dating back to the 1960s, especially during conflicts like the Nasser-led war in Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s stance continues to elicit questions about its true commitment to Palestine (4).

Why is Saudi Arabia Often Questioned About Its Stance on Palestine?

Despite historical evidence of Saudi support for Palestinian resistance organizations, including funding and arming various factions since the 1960s, the Saudi stance has been met with skepticism. Several factors, both historical and current, contribute to ongoing doubts about Saudi intentions toward Palestine.

1. 1. Historical Context: Saudi Arabia’s approach to the Palestinian issue has, since the 1930s, been influenced by two factors: British control over Saudi decision-making and fears of the Hashemite rule in Jordan. Under British influence, King Abdulaziz Al Saud avoided taking public actions in support of the Palestinian revolt in the 1930s, reiterating Saudi opposition to Jewish migration to U.S. officials before the 1948 Nakba but seeking British assurances against Hashemite aggression toward Saudi territory. This pragmatic stance laid the groundwork for Saudi policy: avoid provoking Zionism while securing protection from Britain and, later, the U.S. This approach has shaped Saudi thinking for decades, explaining the kingdom’s tempered response to Israeli actions in Jerusalem and its quiet diplomatic maneuvers to limit Hashemite influence over holy sites, underscoring its own leadership of the Islamic world (5).

1. 1. Impact of Arab Nationalism: In the 1960s, the rise of Arab nationalism, under Nasserism and Baathism, cast further doubts on Saudi commitment to Palestine. Accused of collaborating with Western imperialism and Zionism, Saudi Arabia was placed on trial by Arab nationalist ideologues despite its public support for Palestine. Although the pan-Arabist narrative waned after the 1967 defeat, its influence remains in the minds of many, feeding suspicions that Saudi Arabia uses the Palestinian cause to secure its own political goals.

1. 1. Secrecy and Lack of Transparency: Saudi Arabia’s secretive foreign policy fuels suspicions, with sporadic revelations about covert security, intelligence, and technology cooperation with Israel since the 1960s. These clandestine interactions, further strengthened by mutual concerns over Iran, have only been revealed sporadically, usually through Israeli media, while Saudi Arabia maintains a public stance supporting the two-state solution and Palestinian refugee rights. This secrecy deepens mistrust, fostering conspiracy theories about Riyadh’s true intentions (6).

1. 1. Saudi Opposition to Islamist Movements: The Israeli assault on Gaza has exposed Saudi antipathy toward Islamist movements, not only within its borders but across the Arab world. Saudi Arabia’s stance toward Hamas and Islamic Jihad aligns it with Israel’s agenda, as both groups represent what remains of political Islam, which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to curb both domestically and regionally (7). Since Mohammed bin Salman’s rise to power, he has committed to dismantling political Islam, perceiving it as a political and economic threat. He envisions a resolution to the Palestinian issue through U.S.-backed diplomacy, similar to past accords like Oslo. Consequently, Gaza’s role as a bastion of resistance complicates the Saudi narrative, and Hamas’ actions since October 7 are viewed as an impediment to normalization with Israel.

Conclusion: The Future of Saudi Arabia’s Position on Palestine

As Saudi Arabia shifts its focus from Arab and Islamic legitimacy to domestic economic and developmental legitimacy, the kingdom’s disengagement from the Palestinian issue becomes more apparent. The Saudi leadership views Palestinian affairs as a potential liability in foreign policy, conflicting with its own security interests aligned with Washington and a potential partnership with Israel. While Saudi public sentiment remains largely committed to the Palestinian cause, official Saudi discourse prioritizes national security over Palestinian interests, and this divergence fuels ongoing mistrust and accusations of betrayal across the Arab world.

In the near future, Saudi Arabia’s position on the Palestinian issue is likely to remain lukewarm, awaiting the end of the Gaza conflict to resume normalization talks with Israel. Riyadh seeks normalization in exchange for security agreements with the United States, regardless of concrete Palestinian gains. Official statements will continue to emphasize Saudi national security, and only if Saudi and Palestinian interests align will the kingdom’s policies reflect mutual support. However, if interests diverge, Saudi national priorities will prevail.