Arab and Islamic Foreign Ministers Condemn Israeli Statements on Palestinian Displacement

Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Islamic nations have strongly condemned recent statements made by two Israeli ministers regarding the potential displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The ministers, representing Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, issued a joint statement denouncing remarks by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz. They specifically criticized proposals and mechanisms aimed at forcibly expelling Palestinians from their land.

The joint statement declared that these "incendiary statements and proposals constitute a flagrant violation of the principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, and a direct threat to the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people." The ministers unequivocally rejected any attempts or plans to displace Palestinians, whether within or outside the occupied Palestinian territories, under any pretext.

They warned of severe consequences if calls for forced displacement translate into declared policies or practical measures to uproot Palestinians. The ministers asserted that such actions directly challenge international peace efforts, including what they referred to as President Donald Trump's comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, which they stated unequivocally rejects forced displacement. They also warned of grave risks that could undermine regional stability.

Emphasizing that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories, the ministers stressed the need to preserve the unity of Palestinian land, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They reiterated that the sole path to a just and lasting peace is the implementation of the two-state solution, establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

The foreign ministers called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities and firmly confront any attempts to impose new demographic or geographic realities in the occupied Palestinian territories. They reaffirmed their full support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land and their rejection of all efforts to erase the Palestinian cause or undermine the legitimate rights of Palestinians.