Israel’s military operations in Gaza are to blame for the breakdown in the ceasefire brokered by the United States, according to a joint statement from eight Muslim Nations released Sunday.
“[We] strongly condemn Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire in Gaza,” The Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia stated.
The denouncement claimed the ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip had resulted in “the killing and injuring of more than a thousand Palestinians,” since the ceasefire was first implemented.
The statement framed Israel’s actions in relation to its impact on Trump’s 20-point peace plan. They claimed that continued military operations “directly undermine President Donald Trump’s peace plan” and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, which endorsed the US President’s plan.
The ministers described Israel’s actions as posing a “direct threat to the political process” and said they “hinder ongoing efforts to create appropriate conditions for transitioning to a more stable phase in the Gaza Strip, both in terms of security and humanitarian conditions.”
Ministers stress the need for Israel’s 'full commitment'
Throughout the statement, the ministers repeatedly emphasized what they describe as the need for Israel’s “full commitment to ensuring the success of the second phase of the peace plan,” referring explicitly to “Phase II of President Trump’s peace plan.”
The document appeared to center Trump's plan as the principal party being undermined, presenting Israel’s actions as an obstacle to the implementation of President Trump’s initiative rather than focusing exclusively on conditions in the territory.
Notably, the statement did not mention Hamas or any Palestinian armed groups by name, nor did it attribute any responsibility for ceasefire violations to militant activity originating from Gaza. Instead, it concluded with a general appeal for “all parties to fully uphold their responsibilities during this critical period” and to “exercise the utmost restraint” in order to “preserve and sustain the ceasefire.”
The ministers further call on all sides to “refrain from any actions that may undermine the current process” and to work toward “early recovery and reconstruction,” as well as a “just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood,” citing international law, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.