Arab Nations Condemn Israeli Proposal to Transfer Gazans into Egypt
The foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority nations issued a joint statement on Thursday expressing “deep concern” over Israeli suggestions to open the Rafah border crossing in one direction to transfer residents of the Gaza Strip into Egypt.
The statement, released by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co-signed by Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar, firmly rejects any attempt to displace Palestinians from their land.
The ministers underscored “their absolute rejection of any attempts to expel the Palestinian people from their land” and stressed the necessity of fully adhering to the peace plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. This includes keeping the Rafah Crossing open in both directions, ensuring freedom of movement, and refraining from compelling Gazans to leave.
“Rather [we aim] to create the right conditions for them to stay on their land and participate in building their homeland,” the statement read, within a vision aimed at restoring stability and improving humanitarian conditions.
The diplomats reiterated appreciation for President Trump’s commitment to regional peace and emphasized the importance of implementing the “Trump Plan” without delay to achieve security and consolidate regional stability.
They also highlighted the urgent need to sustain a ceasefire, alleviate civilian suffering, ensure unrestricted humanitarian aid access into Gaza, and begin early recovery and reconstruction efforts. A key condition, they noted, is enabling the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities in Gaza to lay the groundwork for a new phase of security.
The statement affirmed the countries’ readiness to coordinate with the United States and other international parties to ensure the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and all relevant UNSC resolutions. The ultimate goal, they stated, is to achieve a just and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution, leading to an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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