Arab, Muslim countries affirm establishing Palestinian state is condition for peace with Israel
The statement, which was also signed by Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia, warned about turning Palestinian emigration into real policy.
Saudi Arabia and seven other Arab and Muslim nations issued a joint statement on Sunday, rejecting any attempt to force Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip. The eight foreign ministers, representing Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia, affirmed their backing for an independent Palestinian state.
They vehemently denounced statements by Israel advocating for Palestinian migration from the Gaza Strip and cautioned against these ideas becoming official policy or reality. The statement emphasized that moving Palestinians from their land, through force or by conditions forcing them to leave, is a severe breach of international law and hinders the path to a political resolution.
The ministers adamantly opposed altering the demographic makeup of the Palestinian territories, stressing that Palestinians' fundamental rights, particularly their right to self-determination, cannot be taken away. They reiterated their backing for an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as part of a two-state solution and in line with UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
This stance mirrors previous declarations from the same group of countries in recent months. The statement followed the group's condemnation of Israel's rejection of a roadmap for continuing the US plan to end the Gaza war and its opposition to a Palestinian state. The ministers expressed concern that Israel's stance would hinder a "just and lasting peace" and jeopardize the political framework endorsed by the UN Security Council.
In the latest statement, they urged the international community to prevent displacement-inducing actions, protect Palestinian rights, and work towards a political solution. Riyadh and its allies view the creation of a Palestinian state not just as a Palestinian plea, but as a fundamental prerequisite for achieving long-term stability and peace in the region.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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