Arab, Muslim countries oppose Israel's one-way Rafah reopening plan

Foreign ministers from several Arab and Muslim countries on Friday expressed concern over recent Israeli remarks suggesting the Rafah Crossing be opened only in one direction to transfer Gaza residents into Egypt.

In a joint statement, ministers from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar rejected any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians and called for adherence to the plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which they said requires the Rafah Crossing to remain open in both directions to ensure freedom of movement for Gaza's population.

The statement emphasized that the plan aims to allow Palestinians to remain on their land and participate in rebuilding their homeland, while restoring stability and improving humanitarian conditions.

The ministers stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire, easing civilian suffering, ensuring unrestricted humanitarian access, and launching early recovery and reconstruction efforts.

They also highlighted the need to create conditions for the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities in Gaza, paving the way for greater security and stability.

Israel announced on Wednesday that it would reopen the crossing in the coming days under the October ceasefire deal with Hamas, but said it would operate one way only, allowing Palestinians to leave Gaza but not return. The Egyptian government denied coordinating with Israel on the reopening.

The crossing has been mostly closed since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side. Before that, it was the main exit for Palestinians and a key entry point for humanitarian aid.