Ankara: Eight countries on Sunday condemned Israel's rejection of a roadmap for completing the implementation of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza conflict, saying the move jeopardizes efforts to achieve lasting peace, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
According to Nam News Network, in a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Trkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates condemned Israel's declared rejection of the roadmap, as well as its rejection of Palestinian statehood. The ministers stated that these positions amount to "a direct repudiation" of Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
They expressed that Israel's rejection jeopardizes the plan's implementation and "fundamentally undermines the collective efforts undertaken to achieve a just and lasting peace." The ministers further stated that such rejection places the responsibility on Israel for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The roadmap, which has been accepted by Palestinian factions, was said to be the result of extensive efforts by mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, Trkiye, and the US, alongside the High Representative of Gaza and the Board of Peace. It is described as a crucial step toward the decommissioning of weapons, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, deployment of the International Stabilisation Force, transfer of administrative authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and the reconstruction of the enclave.
The ministers warned that rejecting the roadmap equates to an explicit refusal to proceed with the implementation of Trump's plan and threatens to derail US efforts to end the war and establish conditions for lasting peace. They emphasized the importance of "sustained and active US engagement" to ensure Israel's full compliance with the commitments and arrangements set out under the plan and roadmap and to prevent further obstruction.
The statement held Israel "directly and fully responsible" for any consequences resulting from continued rejection, obstruction, delay, or non-compliance, including any deterioration on the ground or disruption of efforts to end the war in Gaza. Additionally, the ministers called for the full and immediate implementation of the plan to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, ensure security and stability, and pave the way for reconstruction and recovery.
Reaffirming their support for Palestinian self-determination and statehood, the ministers categorically rejected any attempt to deny or prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, including through unilateral actions. They asserted that a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace can only be achieved by implementing a two-state solution, realizing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The importance of the continued role of the Board of Peace was underscored, and all parties were called upon to support its efforts to implement the roadmap and advance the second phase of Trump's plan. The ministers urged the board, with active US support and engagement, to take "immediate and concrete measures" within its mandate to preserve the integrity of the plan and prevent any party from obstructing its implementation.