Israel's remark on Palestinian state slammed

The Arab nations have slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks that "Saudis can establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia" as "irresponsible", as experts stress the "only (way) forward is a two-state solution".

Netanyahu appeared to have responded in jest to an interviewer on Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 on Thursday who mistakenly said "Saudi state" instead of "Palestinian state", before correcting himself, Reuters reported.

In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed its categorical rejection of the Israeli statement that "aims to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation" against Palestinians in Gaza, "including the ethnic cleansing they are subjected to".

Arab states, as well as the Arab League, came to Riyadh's defense with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit saying in a statement that Netanyahu's suggestion showed "a complete detachment from reality".

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such statements are a "flagrant violation of international law and infringement of the United Nations Charter", as it expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and rejected the forced displacement of the Palestinian people.

The Foreign Ministry of the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed its unwavering position against all threats to Saudi Arabia's security, stability and sovereignty, saying it considers Riyadh's sovereignty "as an inviolable 'red line' that no country should undermine or violate".

Netanyahu's remarks came amid a fragile cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel that had been making progress in the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Cairo is scheduled to host an emergency Arab summit on Feb 27 to address the latest developments concerning the Palestinian issue and the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The announcement follows the controversial remarks made by US President Donald Trump suggesting the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to the neighboring countries.

Israel is discussing Trump's "revolutionary, creative vision" on the Gaza Strip, which Trump is "very determined to implement," Netanyahu said on Sunday.

Worldwide outcry

Both Trump's and Netanyahu's remarks have sparked outcry worldwide, with many countries voicing their rejection of displacing Palestinians from their homeland, and expressing their support for a two-state solution.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that no one has the power to displace Palestinians from their homeland.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Trump's plan to relocate Palestinians during a TV debate on Sunday, calling it "a scandal".

Jasim Husain, a Gulf analyst and former member of Bahrain's Parliament, told China Daily that Netanyahu's "unrealistic comments" are "not helpful at all".

"There's no point (in) transferring the challenge to other countries and places. The only (way) forward is a two-state solution," said Husain.

Mustafa Yetim, an associate professor at the International Relations Department at Eskisehir Osmangazi University in Turkiye, told China Daily that the Trump-Netanyahu partnership "has made it quite evident that they intend to achieve their objectives in the Middle East solely through force", disregarding any criticism or opposition from the regional actors.

"In this context, their new US-Israel regional strategy is fundamentally based on turning the Palestinian reality into a fragmented, stateless, colonized and displaced community," said Yetim.

Agencies contributed to this story.