Muslim nations say Israeli ministers' Gaza expulsion plans threaten Trump peace
Eight Arab and Islamic nations have condemned Israeli ministerial plans to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, warning that such actions threaten U.S.-backed peace efforts. While Israeli officials have discussed removal plans, the U.S. ambassador to Israel has denied the existence of an official policy for forced displacement.
Why it matters
The report underscores the high diplomatic tensions surrounding the future of Gaza and the potential impact on U.S.-led regional peace initiatives.
Eight Islamic and Arab countries on Sunday (September 6, 2026) condemned plans voiced by Israeli government ministers for the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, saying the designs jeopardise a U.S.-backed peace in the territory.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday (September 2, 2026) Israel had plans to remove Palestinians from Gaza but was waiting for U.S. approval on where to displace the territory's population.
A day later, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said the plan aimed to remove 250,000 Palestinians from Gaza in the first year, followed by the rest of the roughly two million residents over the following six years.
The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey said they condemned in "the strongest terms" the "plans and mechanisms they proposed aimed at forcibly expelling Palestinians from their land".
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