Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a central actor in efforts to resolve the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, leveraging diplomatic influence and regional partnerships to reinvigorate prospects for a two-state solution and post-war reconstruction.

The Kingdom’s engagement reflects a blend of principled support for Palestinian statehood, pragmatic regional leadership and alignment with broader international peace efforts.

At the heart of Riyadh’s approach is reaffirming the two-state framework, long embodied in the Arab Peace Initiative and recently revitalised through a global alliance co-chaired by the Saudi Foreign Minister, aimed at mobilising international support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

This initiative has convened numerous countries in successive meetings and underscores Saudi Arabia’s effort to sustain momentum for diplomatic resolution amid shifting regional dynamics.

Saudi officials have made clear that formal normalisation of relations with Israel is contingent on credible progress toward Palestinian sovereignty with agreed borders and governance mechanisms as envisaged in the two-state paradigm, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state remaining a cornerstone demand.

Beyond diplomatic advocacy, Riyadh has signalled potential leadership in post-conflict reconstruction and stabilisation, particularly in Gaza.

Internal Saudi planning documents discussed measures to disarm and marginalise Hamas, strengthen and reform the Palestinian Authority, and support the deployment of an international peacekeeping mission in the Strip, emphasizing institutional reform and national unity as prerequisites for long-term peace.

Saudi Arabia’s potential financial contributions to reconstruction — likely in the tens of billions — and its proposals for enhanced governance structures aim to address both humanitarian needs and political fragmentation.

Saudi Arabia’s peacemaking efforts are shaped by a complex regional landscape.

The Kingdom’s advocacy for a settlement that advances Palestinian rights and statehood serves as a diplomatic bridge between the United States, European partners and regional capitals.

It also responds to evolving US policy and broader Middle East geopolitics, balancing strategic ties with Washington and addressing Arab and Muslim world expectations for a just solution.

The emphasis on a negotiated settlement rooted in mutual security and prosperity underscores Riyadh’s broader vision of regional stability, even as the practical path to a permanent peace deal remains contingent on overcoming deeply entrenched grievances and negotiating core issues including territory, security guarantees and political representation.