Pakistan, the UAE and six other countries issued a joint statement on the Gaza peace plan.
The foreign ministers of eight Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning Israel’s declared rejection of the Road Map for completing US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. The statement also condemned Israel’s rejection of Palestinian statehood.
The signatories were the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The Road Map they referenced is tied to UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which endorsed the wider plan.
According to a statement carried by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers said Israel’s positions amounted to a direct repudiation of the Comprehensive Plan. They said the stance jeopardized its implementation and undermined the collective efforts undertaken to achieve a just and lasting peace. The ministers stated that such rejection confirmed Israel now bore responsibility for obstructing efforts to bring peace in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Foreign Ministers Back Gaza Peace Road Map
The ministers described the Road Map as a document already accepted by Palestinian factions. They said it was the conclusion of extensive efforts by mediators, naming Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, the United States, the High Representative of Gaza and the Board of Peace.
The statement laid out what the Road Map is meant to achieve. According to the Express Tribune, the ministers called it a vital milestone for the decommissioning of weapons alongside the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the deployment of an International Stabilization Force, the transfer of administrative authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and the reconstruction of the territory.
The ministers said rejecting the Road Map amounted to an explicit refusal to proceed with the Comprehensive Plan. They said it directly threatened efforts to end the war in Gaza and establish conditions for lasting peace.
Pakistan and UAE Call for Full Implementation
The statement held Israeli authorities responsible for any consequences resulting from obstructing or delaying implementation. According to Syria’s SANA news agency, the ministers cited worsening conditions in the Gaza Strip and the disruption of efforts to end the war among those possible consequences.
The ministers called for the plan’s full and immediate implementation to address the humanitarian situation, rebuild Gaza and achieve security and stability. They urged progress on the plan’s second phase, which includes containing weapons, withdrawing Israeli forces, deploying the international stabilization force and transferring administrative authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
The joint statement drew a response from Hamas. According to Sputnik, the group welcomed the statement on Monday, describing it as a clear condemnation of Israel’s rejection of the roadmap and saying Israel bore responsibility for obstructing efforts to end the war.
The eight countries reaffirmed the need for continued US engagement to ensure Israel complied with the obligations set out in the plan and its accompanying roadmap. They stated that Israel bore direct and full responsibility for any deterioration resulting from continued rejection, obstruction, delay or non-compliance.
