Pakistan, 7 other countries reject forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza

Pakistan and six other Muslim countries have vehemently opposed statements and plans advocating for the forced relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, labeling them as a breach of international law and a threat to Palestinian rights. In a joint declaration released on Sunday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates firmly rejected any initiatives or strategies intending to displace Palestinians from their homeland, whether within or outside the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The ministers particularly denounced remarks made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz concerning the potential displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, including suggestions for mechanisms to forcibly remove them. They cautioned that transforming calls for forced displacement into official policies or tangible actions would obstruct international peace efforts, including US President Donald Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which explicitly opposes forced displacement.

The foreign ministers emphasized that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and advocated for maintaining the unity of the Palestinian territory, encompassing both Gaza and the West Bank, along with East Jerusalem. They reiterated that a fair and enduring peace can only be realized through the implementation of the two-state solution, with an autonomous Palestinian state established along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with pertinent international resolutions.

The ministers also appealed to the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to fulfill its obligations and resolutely oppose attempts to impose a new demographic or territorial configuration in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They reaffirmed their backing for the resilience of the Palestinian people on their land and denounced efforts to discredit the Palestinian cause or infringe upon their rightful entitlements.