Palestine’s Abbas meets Saudi crown prince as Hamas performs umrah

Al-Monitor Staff

Apr 19, 2023

Palestine-Saudi football fans — Soccer fans cheer below a banner bearing the portraits of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas (L), late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (2nd-L), Saudi King Salman (2nd-R) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R), ahead of the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia, al-Ram, West Bank, Oct. 15, 2019. — Hazem Bader/AFP

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aka MBS, discussed bilateral relations, Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification plans and the conflict with Israel, both sides said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, videos emerged on social media Tuesday evening showing Hamas leadership performing a pilgrimage in Mecca.

Abbas arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, and was scheduled to meet MBS on Tuesday. The two discussed the “latest developments in the Palestinian territories,” according to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas reviewed during their meeting the latest developments in the Palestinian territories. pic.twitter.com/oZAKU3nXEJ
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) April 19, 2023