Diplomatic circles: Saudi Arabia stops talks with Israel

For a long time, a formal rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel seemed all but impossible. In recent months, there have been signs that the two sides are reaching out to each other. But now Saudi Arabia is stopping the talks, according to diplomatic circles.

Saudi Arabia has stopped talks on a possible normalization of relations with Israel. The German Press Agency claims to have learned this from Saudi diplomatic circles. The talks were brokered by the US. Saudi Arabia is considered an important protector of the Palestinians.

In the immediate aftermath of Hamas' large-scale attack a week ago, and because of Israel's expected response, fears had already arisen that Saudi Arabia might draw consequences for talks on normalizing relations with Israel.

Saudi Arabia on Friday sharply criticized a call by the Israeli military for the mass evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip. The kingdom rejects the "forced relocation", the Foreign Ministry announced. All forms of military escalation directed against civilians must be stopped.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in the Saudi capital Riyadh. He is due to meet his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan this Saturday.