Saudi Arabia and Seven Nations Condemn Israeli Remarks on Forcing Palestinians from Gaza

Eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries have issued a forceful rejection of Israeli proposals to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, describing the remarks as “incitement” and a direct assault on Palestinian rights.

The joint statement came after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz outlined a seven-year plan for removing Palestinians from Gaza. Ben-Gvir described the proposed departure as “voluntary emigration.” The foreign ministers rejected that characterization, saying they opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians, whether inside or outside the occupied Palestinian territories.

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incitement

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt said the proposals flagrantly violated international law, including international humanitarian law. They warned against turning the measures into official policy and said they could damage regional stability and international efforts to end the Gaza conflict.

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voluntary emigration

The ministers also said the proposals challenged US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the conflict, which rejects forced displacement. They stressed that Gaza forms an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories and called for preserving the territorial unity of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The statement reaffirmed support for Palestinians remaining on their land and rejected efforts to undermine their rights or erase the Palestinian cause. It said a just and lasting peace required a two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital. The ministers urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to oppose attempts to change the demographic or geographic status of the occupied territories.

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steadfast