Gaza War Mediators Express Concern Over Israel’s Plan to Open One-Way Exit for Gazans

Gaza war mediators Egypt and Qatar, along with six other Muslim-majority countries, have voiced their concern over Israel’s announcement to open a one-way crossing for Palestinians to exit Gaza. Together, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates released a joint statement expressing deep worry regarding Israel’s plan to open the Rafah crossing in one direction solely for transferring residents of Gaza to Egypt. They strongly opposed any attempts to expel Palestinians from their land and rejected any forceful evacuation of Gaza residents. The ministers emphasized the need for the crossing to operate in both directions, aligning with US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative. Israel’s recent decision to open the Rafah crossing exclusively for Palestinians to exit Gaza has raised concerns among the mediators, as Egypt promptly denied any agreement on such terms, insisting on the opening in both directions. The reopening of the Rafah crossing is a crucial aspect of Trump’s peace plan for the region and has been long advocated for by UN agencies and humanitarian organizations. However, progress has been hindered since the October ceasefire, with Israeli authorities citing Hamas’s failure to return all hostages’ bodies and the necessity for coordination with Egypt.