The foreign ministers of eight countries have issued a joint statement strongly condemning recent comments made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defence Minister Israel Katz regarding the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. The joint declaration, released on Sunday, September 7, by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, was backed by the top diplomats of Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In their statement, the ministers denounced any proposals or mechanisms aimed at forcibly removing Palestinians from their homeland. They warned that such rhetoric flagrantly violates international law, including international humanitarian law, while posing a direct threat to the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The diplomatic coalition reaffirmed its unequivocal rejection and condemnation of any plans to displace Palestinians, whether within or outside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, regardless of any justification presented.
The eight nations warned that transforming calls for forced displacement into official policy or concrete actions would trigger severe regional consequences. They noted that such measures would directly undermine international peace initiatives, specifically pointing to US President Donald Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which explicitly rejects the forced displacement of civilians.
Stressing that Gaza remains an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the ministers called for the preservation of territorial unity across both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. They reiterated their support for a two-state solution as the only viable path to achieving a just and lasting peace, advocating for an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international resolutions.
Furthermore, the ministers appealed to the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to actively confront any attempts to impose a new demographic or geographic reality in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They concluded by reaffirming their support for Palestinians remaining on their land, rejecting all efforts to erase the Palestinian cause or undermine their legitimate rights.
