Former Saudi intelligence chief derides Trump’s ‘mad ethnic cleansing plan’ for Gaza

Saudi Arabia’s former intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal slams Trump’s proposal to relocate Gazans en masse, calling it a “mad ethnic cleansing plan” in lockstep with the agenda of Israel’s far right.

“It is a fantasy to think that ethnic cleansing in the 21st century can be condoned… There’s no way that I can explain it,” he says, warning that the plan will cause “more conflict and more bloodshed.”

He calls on the international community to take the matter up in the United Nations, but notes that “with the American veto, I cannot expect that there will be much success in passing any resolution.”

He echoes the Saudi foreign ministry’s statement made yesterday, which doubled down on Riyadh’s stance against normalizing relations with Israel before a two-state solution has been reached.

President Trump's proposal will only mean "more conflict and more bloodshed," warns former Saudi intel chief Prince Turki al Faisal. "It is a fantasy to think that ethnic cleansing in the 21st century can be condoned… There's no way that I can explain it." pic.twitter.com/nxRgtuE9Ja

— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) February 5, 2025

The Saudi press this morning also flatly rejected Trump’s comments, with front-page headlines calling for an independent Palestinian state and asserting the Saudi position is “fixed and unwavering.”

המדד הטוב ביותר כדי להבין מה ההנהגה הסעודית רוצה להעביר החוצה אלה כותרות העיתונים וזה מה שקורה שם הבוקר:

– העיתון עוכאז: אין מו"מ וסיסמאות מופרזות בעניין עמדתנו ביחס לפלסטין. סעודיה – נחישות שלא נתונה להתגמשות

– העיתון אל-יום: אין מו"מ ואין סיסמאות מופרזות. מדינה פלסטינית… pic.twitter.com/jEcxmN8HiV

— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) February 6, 2025

Prince Turki is known to remain in close contact with the current Saudi leadership and is often used as a funnel for Riyadh’s positions.