DaysofPal – Eight Muslim-majority countries, including key Gaza mediators Egypt and Qatar, have voiced strong alarm after Israel indicated it would open the Rafah crossing for Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip but not to return.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates said they were “deeply concerned” by Israeli remarks suggesting the crossing might operate in only one direction. Such a move, they warned, could effectively facilitate the transfer of Gaza’s population into Egypt.
The ministers emphasized their “complete rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people,” stressing that forced or coerced relocation would constitute a grave violation of international law.
They also underscored the need for full respect for previously agreed frameworks for Gaza, including commitments related to crossings, freedom of movement, and the treatment of civilians.
The statement called for the Rafah crossing to function in both directions and for all relevant arrangements to be implemented “without delay or obstruction.”
The eight countries urged immediate steps to reinforce the ceasefire, which they said must be “fully established” to prevent further civilian suffering. They called for unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, noting that months of bombardment and siege have left the territory’s population in desperate need of food, medical supplies, and essential services.
The ministers also highlighted the urgency of launching early recovery and reconstruction efforts, arguing that Gaza’s humanitarian situation cannot stabilize without a sustained cessation of hostilities and large-scale international assistance.
Israel’s announcement on Wednesday heightened regional fears that limiting the Rafah crossing to outward movement could serve as a step toward permanently displacing Palestinians from Gaza.
Several far-right ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have openly advocated such policies in recent months, prompting repeated international warnings.
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