Arab and Islamic Nations Condemn Gaza Displacement Plans

Eight Arab and Islamic nations have strongly condemned recent Israeli statements regarding the potential displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, warning that such rhetoric could evolve into policies undermining regional stability and peace. The foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan issued a joint statement on Sunday denouncing remarks by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Intelligence Gadi Eisenkot. They cautioned against transitioning from mere discussion to implementing forced displacement or policies aimed at uprooting Palestinians.

The ministers asserted that these Israeli statements and proposals constitute a "blatant violation" of international law and humanitarian principles, posing a direct threat to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The statement emphasized a "categorical rejection" of any plans for Palestinian displacement, whether internal or external, under any pretext. They warned that formalizing forced displacement would have severe regional consequences.

This joint stance aligns with the Arab nations' rejection of forced displacement, referencing a plan previously proposed by former US President Donald Trump concerning Gaza. They stressed that Gaza is an integral part of Palestinian territory and reiterated the necessity of maintaining the unity of Palestinian lands, including East Jerusalem. The ministers called for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital, urging the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to uphold international law and prevent demographic or geographic changes in the Palestinian territories.

The coordinated condemnation follows remarks by US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, who on Saturday denied the existence of any Israeli plan for the forced displacement of Gaza's population. Lew's comments came after public statements by Ben-Gvir and Eisenkot suggesting the possibility of Palestinians leaving Gaza. Ben-Gvir had proposed a plan on Thursday for 250,000 Palestinians to leave Gaza within the first year, followed by the remaining two million over the next six years. Eisenkot had previously stated that Israel was prepared to facilitate the transfer of Palestinians from Gaza, claiming that 80% of the population wished to leave and were being prevented by Hamas.