<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler and Iran's president spoke by phone about the war between Israel and Hamas, Saudi state media said early Thursday, their first call since a surprise rapprochement in March.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a call on Wednesday from the Iranian leader, Ebrahim Raisi, during which they discussed "the current military situation in Gaza and its environs", the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prince Mohammed told Raisi that Riyadh is "communicating with all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation", SPA said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also stressed "the kingdom's firm position towards supporting the Palestinian cause", it said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Iranian state news agency IRNA also reported on the call, saying the two men discussed the "need to end war crimes against Palestine".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday that Israeli forces say killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Gaza, officials have reported more than 1,000 people killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign of air and artillery strikes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As war rages on, fears have mounted over the fate of at least 150 hostages -- mostly Israelis but also including foreign and dual nationals -- held in Gaza by Hamas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Analysts say the war has dealt a heavy blow to a possible landmark normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, and Israel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That process has been driven by US President Joe Biden's administration, with Riyadh bargaining hard for benefits from Washington including security guarantees and help developing a civilian nuclear programme.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Iran has long financially and militarily backed Hamas but insists it had no involvement in Saturday's assault.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saudi Arabia and Iran announced in March they had agreed to restore ties, ending a seven-year rupture in a deal brokered by China.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prince Mohammed also spoke by phone on Wednesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which the 38-year-old Saudi leader said he was "exerting unremitting efforts through regional and international communication to achieve coordination that pushes for a halt of the current escalation". AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>