Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has expressed his commitment to preventing further escalation of conflict following the surprise Hamas attack on Israel, according to Saudi state media.

He assured Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas of Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the Palestinian people in their pursuit of legitimate rights, a better life, and lasting peace.

In the wake of the unprecedented Hamas attacks, Israel has reported 800 casualties and has launched extensive airstrikes on Gaza, resulting in a death toll of 687.

There had been speculation that Saudi Arabia might consider normalizing ties with Israel in exchange for security guarantees from the United States and assistance with developing a civilian nuclear program.

However, Prince Mohammed emphasized the importance of addressing the Palestinian issue, given Saudi Arabia’s significance as the custodian of Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina.

The ongoing violence is seen as a setback to any potential progress toward normalization. Prince Mohammed has also discussed the crisis with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II via phone, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.