Saudi Arabia denounces Israeli offensive in north Gaza as genocide

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farahan Al Saud on Thursday condemned Israel's offensive in northern Gaza as genocide, telling foreign investors that some bilateral agreements it has been negotiating with Washington are "not that tied" to normalisation of its relations with Israel.

"Some of them we can progress probably quite quickly, and some of them we are working on - especially those related to trade, AI, et cetera - which are not tied to any other third parties," said Prince Faisal, addressing an investment conference in Riyadh.

The foreign minister reiterated the kingdom's position that it would not recognise Israel without a Palestinian state, adding that Saudi Arabia is "quite happy to wait until the situation is amenable," before moving ahead with the proposed step.

Prince Faisal also that said Israeli actions in northern Gaza could only be described as a form a genocide that was feeding a cycle of violence.

"We look at just what's happening now in north (Gaza) where we have a complete blockade of any access for humanitarian goods coupled with a continued military assault without any real pathway for civilians to find shelter, to find safe zones, that can only be described as a form of genocide," he said.