Saudi officials have paused the push to stabilize relations with Israel, according to Reuters, which cited an unnamed source familiar with the negotiations. The pause means that bilateral discussions are now postponed while both sides reassess how to proceed. The source said that maintaining momentum would require Israel to entertain concessions to the Palestinians and to revisit its broader foreign policy priorities.
The report notes that the momentum toward a potential agreement was evident before October 7, when Iran-backed Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel that touched off a full-scale war. In the period leading up to that assault, leaders in both Israel and Saudi Arabia had indicated steady progress toward a framework that could shift the strategic landscape of the Middle East. The October 7 events dramatically altered that trajectory and introduced new imperatives for security, regional alliances, and diplomatic risk calculations.
On that day, Hamas forces fired thousands of rockets into Israeli territory and announced the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Militants crossed into Israeli areas, seized military equipment, and captured more than a hundred hostages. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that the country was at war and mobilized national resources to confront the crisis.
In light of these developments, observers note that the pause in talks reflects a broader strategic recalibration among regional actors who are weighing the costs and benefits of any accord in a volatile and rapidly shifting security environment.