Arab and Islamic nations have issued a united condemnation of Israel’s plan to impose full military control over the Gaza Strip, calling it a dangerous escalation and a clear violation of international law.
The joint declaration, released after an Arab-Islamic ministerial meeting, accused Israel of attempting to cement an “illegal occupation by force” and warned that such actions could amount to crimes against humanity.
United rejection of Israel’s occupation announcement
Representatives from over 20 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Türkiye, Indonesia, and Nigeria, joined the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in denouncing the Israeli move.
The statement described the plan as part of a pattern of grave violations, including mass killings, starvation, forced displacement, and annexation of Palestinian land. Ministers stressed that these actions undermine all regional and international peace efforts while worsening the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Call for immediate ceasefire and aid access
The ministers demanded an immediate halt to Israeli military aggression in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. They urged Israel to open humanitarian corridors for the unrestricted entry of food, medicine, and fuel, and to ensure the freedom of operation for relief agencies.
Support was reiterated for mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to secure a ceasefire and facilitate a prisoner and hostage exchange.
Support for Gaza reconstruction and Two-State solution
The meeting also backed the Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan for Gaza, encouraging active participation in the upcoming Cairo conference. Ministers strongly rejected any attempt to displace Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank and reaffirmed the importance of preserving Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites under Hashemite Custodianship.
They restated that a just and lasting peace requires the implementation of the two-State solution, with an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.
Call on international community for accountability
The declaration held Israel fully responsible for the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, urging the UN Security Council’s permanent members to act urgently to stop violations of international law. It also pressed for accountability for actions amounting to genocide and for the implementation of peace measures agreed at recent high-level international conferences.
