Summary
- The eight countries reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempt to displace Palestinians whether such efforts are pursued within the occupied Palestinian territories or through measures intended to force Palestinians outside their homeland.
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the other signatories reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s right to their homeland and rejected efforts to undermine or deprive Palestinians of their legitimate national rights.
- The statement reflects continued regional opposition to proposals involving the forced displacement of Palestinians and highlights renewed calls for adherence to international law and diplomatic efforts toward a political settlement.
ISTANBUL: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and five other Muslim-majority countries have strongly condemned remarks by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for Palestinians to be removed from the Gaza Strip, warning that any practical attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians could have serious consequences for the region.
A joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The statement was released by Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry following discussions among the eight countries.
The foreign ministers rejected proposals and plans aimed at forcibly removing Palestinians from their homeland. They said inflammatory statements advocating displacement violate the principles of international law including international humanitarian law and pose a direct threat to the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
The eight countries reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempt to displace Palestinians whether such efforts are pursued within the occupied Palestinian territories or through measures intended to force Palestinians outside their homeland.
They also said such actions would directly threaten international diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving peace in Gaza including the Gaza peace plan associated with US President Donald Trump. According to the joint statement forced displacement has been explicitly rejected in those efforts.
The foreign ministers stressed that Gaza is an integral and indivisible part of the occupied Palestinian territory. They called for the preservation of Palestinian unity across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The eight countries also reiterated their support for a two-state solution describing it as the only viable path toward lasting peace in the region. Under their position, an independent Palestinian state should be established on the basis of the borders that existed before June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with relevant international resolutions.
The joint statement further called on the international community particularly the United Nations Security Council to prevent attempts to establish new settlements or alter the geographical status of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the other signatories reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s right to their homeland and rejected efforts to undermine or deprive Palestinians of their legitimate national rights.
The statement reflects continued regional opposition to proposals involving the forced displacement of Palestinians and highlights renewed calls for adherence to international law and diplomatic efforts toward a political settlement.
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