Eight Arab and Muslim nations issued a joint statement on Friday to “express their deep concern” regarding Israel’s announcement that the Rafah Crossing from the southern Gaza Strip to Sinai will open for people heading to Egypt only.
The foreign ministries of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates and stated “their complete rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land and emphasize the necessity of full adherence to the plan of U.S. President Donald Trump, which includes opening the Rafah Crossing in both directions.”
The statement stressed the importance of creating suitable conditions for the Palestinians in Gaza to “remain on their land and participate in building their homeland.”
The eight states called on Israel to work within the framework established by the Trump administration to restore stability in the region and improve the humanitarian conditions of Gazans “without delay or obstruction.”
The statement urged “unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip,” as well as the initiation of “early recovery and reconstruction efforts” so that the Palestinian Authority can once more govern Gaza.
It moreover called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state “on the June 4, 1967, borders” with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit on Wednesday said: “In accordance with the ceasefire agreement and a directive of the political echelon, the Rafah Crossing will open in the coming days exclusively for the exit of residents from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.
“The residents’ exit through the Rafah Crossing will be facilitated through coordination with Egypt, following security approval by Israel and under the supervision of the European Union mission, similar to the mechanism that operated in January 2025,” COGAT tweeted.
