Qatar and Saudi Arabia expressed solidarity with Egypt over comments Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made earlier this week accusing the country for allowing weapons to be smuggled to Hamas through the Egyptian border.

“[Netanyahu] tried to use Egypt’s name to distract Israeli public opinion and obstruct joint mediation efforts aimed at a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of hostages and detainees,” read a statement by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserts that the Israeli occupation’s approach based on an attempt to falsify facts and mislead world public opinion by repeating lies will ultimately lead to the demise of peace efforts and the expansion of violence in the region.”

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also chided the accusation, saying it condemns it as a “futile [attempt] to justify continued Israeli violations of international laws and norms”.

The kingdom said it was “affirming its solidarity and support for the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt in confronting these Israeli allegations”.