8 Arab and Islamic countries condemn the Israeli rejection of Trump’s road map for Gaza and the refusal to establish a Palestinian state

On Sunday, 8 Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli rejection of the road map to complete the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, as well as the current Israeli government’s rejection of the idea of ​​establishing a Palestinian state.

The official Emirates News Agency (WAM) published the text of the statement issued by the foreign ministers of the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia.

The statement considered that the Israeli positions represent “a direct rejection of the comprehensive plan, threaten its implementation, and fundamentally undermine the collective efforts made to achieve a just and lasting peace,” noting that Israel “now bears responsibility for obstructing efforts aimed at bringing peace to Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory.”

The ministers also said that Israel's refusal to continue implementing the plan "directly threatens to thwart the intensive efforts made by US President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza and create the necessary conditions to achieve lasting peace."

They stressed that Israel bears "direct and full responsibility for any consequences resulting from its continued refusal, obstruction, delay, or non-compliance, including any resulting deterioration in the conditions on the ground, and any disruption of efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza."

The statement also rejected "any attempt to deny the establishment of a Palestinian state or prevent its realization, including through unilateral measures. A just, lasting and comprehensive peace will only be achieved by implementing the two-state solution and embodying an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions."

The ministers also called on the Peace Council "with the active support and participation of the United States, to take immediate and concrete measures within the framework of its mandate, to ensure the preservation of the integrity of the comprehensive plan and to prevent any party from obstructing its implementation."

Late last month, Trump announced a new peace plan for Gaza consisting of 15 items, calling for a series of sequential steps to stop repeated Israeli attacks in Gaza, disarm Hamas, and pave the way for the withdrawal of the Israeli army.

However, after a silence that lasted for more than a week, Netanyahu publicly rejected the agreement, stressing that the Israeli army would not withdraw unless Hamas was completely disarmed. In return, Hamas agreed to a disarmament plan, but warned that this would not be achieved unless Israel adhered to its obligations under the previous ceasefire agreement.

Tangible progress on the ceasefire plan has faltered, especially with the approaching elections in Israel, as Netanyahu is unlikely to make serious concessions on Gaza.