Pakistan, 7 nations condemn Gaza displacement calls

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and seven other countries have strongly condemned calls by Israeli ministers for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement on Sunday.

They rejected all proposals and plans aimed at forcibly removing Palestinians from their land. They said such measures would violate international law, including international humanitarian law.

The ministers also condemned statements by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

They warned against turning such statements into official government policy. They also warned against taking practical measures to remove Palestinians from Gaza.

The eight countries said Palestinians have a right to remain on their land. They reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s steadfastness in their homeland.

They rejected any attempt to displace Palestinians. This includes displacement within or outside the occupied Palestinian territory.

The ministers stressed that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory. They called for the territorial unity of Gaza and the West Bank to be preserved.

They also stressed the importance of occupied East Jerusalem as part of the Palestinian territory.

The countries warned that forced displacement would have serious consequences for the region. They said such steps could undermine efforts to establish lasting peace.

They also said forced displacement would threaten regional stability. It could further complicate international efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict.

The joint statement comes after renewed calls by Israeli far-right ministers for Palestinians to leave Gaza. Ben-Gvir and Katz have recently promoted proposals involving the removal of Palestinians from the territory.

The eight countries rejected these proposals. They said Palestinians must not be uprooted from their homeland under any pretext.

The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to a political solution to the conflict.

They said the two-state solution remains the only path to a just and lasting peace. They called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

The proposed Palestinian state should be based on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders. East Jerusalem should serve as its capital.

The countries also called on the international community to protect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

They stressed that any attempt to alter the demographic or territorial character of the occupied Palestinian territories would further damage prospects for peace.

Pakistan and its seven partners have repeatedly opposed the forced displacement of Palestinians. Their latest statement reflects a renewed regional rejection of proposals to remove Palestinians from Gaza.

The ministers warned that converting displacement calls into concrete policies or actions could further destabilise the Middle East.