On September 21, 2026, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia met in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. They expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urged Israel to immediately fulfill its obligations under the first phase of the comprehensive plan, including ensuring the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and early recovery supplies.
The ministers emphasized the need for a ceasefire and an end to all violations, highlighting that the roadmap is an integral part of the comprehensive plan and provides a framework for implementing its second phase. This includes restricting weapons in conjunction with a full Israeli withdrawal, deploying an international stabilization force, and empowering the National Committee for Gaza Administration to assume its responsibilities across the sector.
The ministers reiterated their categorical rejection of any measures aimed at expelling the Palestinian people or forcibly displacing them from their homeland, or any attempts to alter the geographical or demographic character of the occupied Palestinian land. They also condemned Israel's illegal actions, including settlement expansion, land confiscation, and home demolitions, as well as settler violence and terrorism.
The ministers expressed alarm over measures that undermine the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. They welcomed recent measures taken by the United Kingdom and broader national and European efforts to address Israeli settlement activities, including steps to halt trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
The ministers stressed that Gaza must remain an integral part of Palestinian land and reaffirmed that implementing the comprehensive plan should contribute to reunifying the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. They emphasized the need for a credible and irreversible path towards Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ministers praised the leadership of US President Joe Biden's predecessor and emphasized the pivotal role of the United States in ensuring the implementation of the comprehensive plan. They called for sustained and effective American engagement to guarantee that all parties, including Israel, fulfill their obligations and duties.
The ministers reiterated their readiness to continue working collectively with the United States, the Peace Council, the Palestinian Authority, and all concerned parties to push forward the full implementation of the comprehensive plan and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Key points
- The ministers rejected forced displacement and called for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
- The ministers emphasized the need for a ceasefire and an end to all violations.
- The ministers stressed the importance of a credible and irreversible path towards Palestinian self-determination.
