ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates have issued a joint statement expressing grave concern over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The statement said that the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has been further aggravated by severe weather conditions, including continuous rainfall and storms.
It noted that insufficient humanitarian aid, acute shortages of basic necessities, and the slow delivery of materials required to restore essential services have significantly worsened conditions on the ground.
The ministers highlighted that harsh weather has exposed the extreme vulnerability of Gaza’s population, where nearly 1.9 million displaced people are forced to live in inadequate temporary shelters.
Flooded tents, collapsing damaged buildings, cold temperatures, and food shortages have placed civilians—particularly children, women, the elderly, and the sick—at serious risk, increasing the threat of disease outbreaks.
The joint statement praised the efforts of United Nations agencies, especially UNRWA, and international humanitarian organizations for continuing to deliver aid to Palestinians despite extremely challenging conditions.
The foreign ministers demanded that Israel allow uninterrupted, sustained, and safe access for UN agencies and international NGOs to operate freely in Gaza and the West Bank, stressing that any attempt to obstruct humanitarian operations is unacceptable.
Reaffirming full support for UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and President Trump’s comprehensive plan, the ministers pledged to contribute to their effective implementation to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire, an end to the war in Gaza, dignified living conditions for the Palestinian people, and a credible path toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
The statement emphasized the urgent need to initiate and expand early recovery efforts, including the provision of sustainable and dignified shelters to protect displaced populations from harsh winter conditions.
The foreign ministers called on the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities by pressuring Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift all restrictions on the entry and distribution of tents, shelter materials, medical aid, clean water, fuel, and sanitation supplies into Gaza.
They also demanded the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid through the United Nations, restoration of critical infrastructure and hospitals, and the opening of the Rafah crossing from both sides, in line with President Trump’s plan.
