RIYADH: Jordan’s King Abdullah on Wednesday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s continuing firm and supportive stance on the rights of the Palestinian people.

He expressed his appreciation during a telephone conversation with the Kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a day after US President Donald Trump suggested the removal of all Palestinians from Gaza so the US can take over the territory and rebuild it for others to use.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too; we’ll own it,” he said during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

During their call, King Abdullah and the crown prince discussed the latest developments in the region and efforts to achieve security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Earlier in the day, during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the king rejected “any attempts” to take control of Palestinian territories or displace the people there.

Saudi authorities issued a statement in the early hours of Wednesday, following Trump’s statement, that affirmed that the Kingdom’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state remains firm and unwavering, and they rejected any “attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land.”

It added: “Saudi Arabia will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that.

“Achieving lasting and just peace is impossible without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international resolutions, as has been previously clarified to both the former and current US administrations.”