The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar issued a joint statement on Sunday strongly condemning Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which they said have resulted in the killing and injuring of more than a thousand Palestinians.
The ministers warned that these actions risk escalating tensions and undermining regional and international efforts to consolidate calm and restore stability.
They also stressed that the violations pose a direct threat to the political process and jeopardise the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, as well as the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
Urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint and uphold their responsibilities, the ministers reasserted the need to preserve the ceasefire, enable early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, and advance a just, lasting peace based on the Palestinian rights to self-determination and statehood in line with international law, the relevant UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Rafah crossing reopens
Meanwhile, Gaza’s main border crossing in Rafah will reopen for Palestinians today, Israel said, with preparations underway at the war-ravaged Strip’s main gateway that has been largely shut for almost two years.
Before the war, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt was the only direct exit point for most Gazans to reach the outside world as well as a key entry point for aid into the territory. It has been largely shut since May 2024 and under Israeli military control on the Gazan side.
The crossing will reopen in both directions for Gaza residents on foot only and its operation will be coordinated with Egypt and the European Union, Reuters reported on Sunday.
