ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and seven other prominent Muslim countries have strongly condemned Israeli moves to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, warning that any forced removal of Palestinians from their homeland would amount to a serious breach of international law and pose a threat to regional peace and stability.
Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates denounced recent remarks by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defence Minister Israel Katz regarding the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
The eight countries categorically rejected any plans, proposals or arrangements intended to forcibly remove Palestinians from their homeland, saying such measures would violate basic principles of international law and international humanitarian law while infringing upon the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
They cautioned that any move to turn calls for forced displacement into official Israeli policy or practical measures aimed at uprooting Palestinians could have serious repercussions for the region and weaken international efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement.
The countries reaffirmed that the Gaza Strip forms an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and stressed the need to preserve the territorial unity of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
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The foreign ministers urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to firmly oppose attempts to impose a new demographic or territorial reality in the occupied Palestinian territories.
They also reiterated their support for the Palestinian people’s right to remain on their land and rejected any efforts to marginalise the Palestinian cause or deny Palestinians their legitimate rights.
The joint statement reaffirmed that a two-state solution remains the only viable route to a just and lasting peace. It called for the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant international resolutions.
The ministers further warned that any forced displacement of Palestinians would damage prospects for regional stability and undermine international efforts to end the Gaza conflict, including US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which the statement said explicitly rules out forced displacement.
