Arab-Islamic ministers deplore Israeli move to consolidate annexation in Palestine

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and seven other influential Arab and Islamic nations have firmly rejected any actions seeking to force Palestinians from their homeland or alter the territory and demographics of Israeli-controlled Palestinian land. They strongly condemned the illegal steps aimed at strengthening Israeli authority and annexation, including the rapid expansion of settlements, land seizures, destruction of Palestinian homes, settler aggression, and terrorism, as well as forced displacement.

The ministers demanded an immediate halt to these actions. At a joint statement following their meeting in New York on Monday, during the 81st UN General Assembly session, the Saudi Arabian, Egyptian, Qatari, Jordanian, UAE, Indonesian, Pakistani, and Turkish foreign ministers expressed deep concern over the measures violating the historical and legal status quo of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

They also voiced grave worry over the persistent human suffering in Gaza and urged Israel to promptly meet its outstanding obligations under the First Phase of the Comprehensive Plan, such as allowing unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid and recovery supplies and facilitating the repair of essential infrastructure. The ministers emphasized the necessity of maintaining the ceasefire and halting all breaches.

They stressed that the Road Map is a crucial component of the Comprehensive Plan, outlining the steps needed to advance the Second Phase, which includes decommissioning alongside full Israeli withdrawal, deploying the International Stabilization Force (ISF), granting the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) full powers in the Gaza Strip, and initiating Early Recovery and Reconstruction projects across Gaza.

The ministers urged all parties to honor their commitments sincerely and without delay. They welcomed the recent actions by the United Kingdom and other nations and European efforts aimed at responding to Israel's illegal settlement activities, including bans on trade with unauthorized Israeli settlements and called for more effective steps to stop settlement expansion and hold settlers responsible for their violent actions.

The ministers reaffirmed that Gaza must remain an integral part of Palestinian territory and reiterated that implementing the Comprehensive Plan is vital for unifying the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and for creating a credible and irreversible path towards the Palestinian people's self-determination and a sovereign, viable, and independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, through the implementation of the two-state solution.

The ministers praised President Donald Trump's leadership and highlighted the essential role of the United States in ensuring the Comprehensive Plan's implementation. They called for continued and active U.S. involvement to ensure all parties, including Israel, meet their commitments and overcome obstacles to the Road Map's implementation.

The ministers stressed that real progress on the ground would bolster the Board of Peace's credibility and the plan's authority, generating the momentum urgently needed. They expressed their preparedness to continue collaborating with the United States, the Board of Peace, the Palestinian Authority, and all relevant parties to fully execute the Comprehensive Plan and its Road Map, alleviate Palestinian suffering, fulfill their right to self-determination and independent statehood, and achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region.