Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the kingdom’s overriding priority is securing an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, characterizing the truce as a necessary first step toward alleviating the humanitarian crisis and paving the way for a two-state solution. Speaking at a joint press conference in Moscow after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the minister reiterated Riyadh’s stance that a permanent halt to hostilities must precede further diplomatic moves in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Asked whether Saudi Arabia is prepared to normalize relations with Israel, Prince Faisal replied that such discussions are secondary until fighting stops and conditions for a Palestinian state are established. The comments underscore how the Gaza war has displaced other regional priorities for Riyadh, which has been under U.S. pressure to broaden recognition of Israel but has tied any breakthrough to tangible progress on Palestinian rights.