Cairo: The ministerial committee, formed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza, along with 23 countries, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, has jointly expressed strong condemnation and outright rejection of Israel's plan to impose full military control over Gaza.
According to Nam News Network, the joint statement was issued by the foreign ministries of 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. The statement labeled Israel's plan as a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law, viewing it as an attempt to cement illegal occupation and force a new reality on the ground.
The statement further warned that Israel's declared actions would continue its grave violations, including acts of killing, starvation, forced displacement, land annexation, and settler terrorism, which are considered crimes against humanity.
In a related meeting in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also expressed their disapproval of a military re-occupation of the Gaza Strip. They called for an immediate ceasefire in the region and emphasized the necessity of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages, as per a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
Since the resumption of the international airdrop operation in late July, 11 countries have participated, delivering over 1,100 aid packages to the Gaza Strip. Notably, Greece and Italy joined the operation for the first time, collaborating with the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Germany, and the Netherlands.
While Israel denies allegations of deliberately causing starvation, United Nations officials and experts argue that the airdrops will have limited impact unless land crossings are opened to allow more aid and medical treatment for the malnourished.