Arab and Islamic Nations Urge Immediate Opening of Gaza Border Crossings to Avert Humanitarian Crisis

In a significant diplomatic move reflecting rising international concern, eight Arab and Islamic countries have issued a joint statement demanding the immediate and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. They warned of an unprecedented humanitarian collapse endangering millions of civilians.

Warning of an Imminent Catastrophe

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar confirmed that ongoing bombardments and a suffocating blockade, coupled with harsh weather conditions, pose a direct threat to the lives of approximately 1.9 million displaced individuals in Gaza, describing the situation as "extremely concerning."

Winter Exposes Humanitarian Fragility

The statement highlighted that the winter season has revealed the fragility of living conditions, as displaced persons' camps have turned into flooded disaster zones, compounded by the collapse of damaged buildings and severe shortages of heating and basic services, exacerbating the suffering of families trapped in these conditions.

Severe Health Warnings

The ministers cautioned that the combination of acute malnutrition and extreme cold threatens to trigger a health catastrophe and the spread of epidemics, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, women, and the elderly, amid a deteriorating medical capacity within the territory.

UN Support and Rejection of Obstruction

The statement praised the efforts of the United Nations, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and international organizations operating in Gaza, demanding that Israel refrain from obstructing aid and ensure its sustainable and predictable flow without restrictions. The ministers deemed any attempts to hinder humanitarian organizations as "a challenge to international will" and unacceptable.

Political Path and Unconditional Aid

They reiterated their full support for UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the comprehensive plan presented by U.S. President Donald Trump, reaffirming their commitment to turning political initiatives into practical realities that ensure early recovery and provide permanent shelters that uphold the dignity of the inhabitants.

Palestinian State at the Center of the Solution

The statement emphasized the need to initiate a reliable process for self-determination that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, urging the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities and pressure Israel as the occupying power to immediately lift restrictions on the entry of essential supplies, such as tents, shelter materials, medicines, drinking water, fuel, and sanitation services.

Gaza Facing Hunger and Cold

This joint position comes at a time when the Gaza Strip is grappling with a dual crisis: a severe winter destroying the shelters of the displaced and a growing hunger threatening the lives of all, amid a clear stagnation in the implementation of humanitarian commitments.

Stalled Agreement on the Ground

It is important to note that the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Agreement, held last October, established a framework to end the war and launch the largest humanitarian aid operation in Gaza, stipulating a sustainable and unconditional flow of aid and the opening of all border crossings to meet the needs of 2.3 million people. However, these points remain pending due to Israeli obstacles.