Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and allies blast Israeli ministers’ Gaza removal scheme

On September 6, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and their allies expressed strong condemnation of Israeli government ministers' plans to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The ministers argue that these proposals risk undermining a US-backed peace plan for the territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had hinted at the possibility of removing Palestinians from Gaza, stating that Israel had plans to do so, pending US approval on where to relocate the displaced population.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir further detailed the plan, suggesting the removal of 250,000 Palestinians in the first year, with the goal of eventually relocating the entire two million residents over the next six years.

The eight foreign ministers, representing Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Turkey, strongly denounced these "plans and mechanisms" proposed by Israel. They warned of "grave consequences" if such plans were implemented, emphasizing that the forced displacement of Palestinians directly undermines international efforts to achieve peace.

The ministers pointed to President Donald Trump's comprehensive peace plan for Gaza, which firmly rejects the idea of forced displacement, as a crucial component of US diplomatic efforts. This stance was echoed by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who denied on Saturday that Israel had any plan to force Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip.