New York: In a joint meeting held on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates expressed serious concerns regarding the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza. The ministers urged Israel to promptly meet its commitments outlined in the First Phase of the Comprehensive Plan, emphasizing the need for the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid and the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers highlighted the significance of the Road Map as a critical component of the Comprehensive Plan, which includes steps such as the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, the deployment of an International Stabilization Force, and the responsibilities of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. They called for all involved parties to honor their obligations without delay to advance the plan’s Second Phase.
The collective statement strongly rejected any actions that could lead to the forced displacement of Palestinians or alter the demographic and territorial characteristics of the occupied territories. The foreign ministers condemned practices aimed at solidifying Israeli control, such as settlement expansion and land confiscation, and urged their immediate cessation. Additionally, they voiced concerns about actions threatening the status of religious sites in Jerusalem.
The ministers acknowledged the measures taken by the United Kingdom and other European entities to counter illegal settlement activities, advocating for further initiatives to halt settlement expansion and hold perpetrators accountable for violence.
The statement reaffirmed Gaza’s status as an integral part of Palestinian territory and the necessity of the Comprehensive Plan contributing to the reunification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The ministers reiterated the plan’s role in facilitating a two-state solution, ensuring a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Commending former President Donald J. Trump, the ministers emphasized the crucial role of the United States in the plan’s implementation. They called for continued U.S. engagement to ensure compliance by all parties and to facilitate the removal of impediments to the Road Map’s execution.
Finally, the ministers underscored their commitment to collaborating with the United States, the Board of Peace, the Palestinian Authority, and other stakeholders to fully implement the Comprehensive Plan, alleviate Palestinian suffering, and achieve a durable peace in the region.