Cairo: The ministerial committee, mandated by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza, along with 23 countries, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s intention to impose full military control over Gaza. The statement represents a collective voice from countries including Egypt, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Mauritania, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Somalia, Türkiye, and Gambia.
According to Nam News Network, the joint statement released by the foreign ministries of these countries described Israel’s plan as a dangerous escalation, a violation of international law, and an attempt to solidify an illegal occupation by force. The statement criticized the Israeli actions as a continuation of severe violations, including killing, starvation, forced displacement, and land annexation, which it categorized as crimes against humanity.
In a related development, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met in Cairo, where they reiterated their opposition to a military re-occupation of the Gaza Strip. They emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages, while opposing the displacement of Palestinians.
Since late July, an international airdrop operation has been ongoing, with participation from 11 countries providing over 1,100 aid packages to Gaza. Greece and Italy joined the effort for the first time, collaborating with the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Germany, and the Netherlands. However, United Nations officials and experts argue that these airdrops have minimal impact unless Israel opens land crossings to allow more aid and medical treatment for the malnourished.