Israel jeopardising Trump's Gaza peace plan, say UAE and 7 Muslim nations

The United Arab Emirates joined seven other Muslim-majority nations on Thursday in issuing a strongly worded joint statement condemning Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip and accusing it of jeopardising US President Donald Trump's roadmap to end the war.The joint declaration, issued by the foreign ministers of the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, said Israel's continued military operations were undermining international efforts to implement the next phase of the Gaza peace plan after Palestinian factions accepted the framework announced by Trump. This also marks a rare show of unity among Muslim countries that often differ in their approaches -- from the UAE, a close US partner with ties to Israel, to Turkiye, one of Israel's most vocal critics.8 NATIONS SAY ISRAEL IS JEOPARDISING PEACE PROCESSThe eight countries accused Israel of violating international law and warned that its continued military operations could unravel months of diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire.According to the joint statement, Israel's conduct in Gaza "constitutes a clear breach of Israel's obligations under international law and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, undermines international and regional efforts aimed at implementing the second phase of the Plan, particularly following the announcement by US President Donald Trump that the Palestinian factions accepted the roadmap, including the provisions relating to the confinement of weapons."The ministers further warned that Israel's actions "threatens to derail the political process, reignite the cycle of escalation, and further deepen the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip".The statement was issued amid uncertainty over the implementation of Donald Trump's ceasefire roadmap, which called for Hamas to begin surrendering its weapons while Israel would halt military operations and gradually withdraw forces from Gaza under a phased agreement.MINISTERS CALL OUT ISRAEL OVER CIVILIAN DEATHSThe foreign ministers expressed their strongest condemnation of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, particularly attacks affecting civilian infrastructure."The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Trkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt express their strongest condemnation and denunciation of the ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, particularly the targeting of healthcare facilities and medical infrastructure, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and the continued loss of civilian lives, including women and children, in grave violation of international law, including international humanitarian law."The ministers said protecting civilians, hospitals, healthcare workers and humanitarian personnel remains a legal obligation under international law. They stressed that humanitarian assistance, including medical supplies and relief aid, must be allowed to reach all parts of Gaza immediately, safely and without obstruction.Beyond Gaza, the ministers argued that the situation should not be viewed separately from developments in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The statement renewed calls for renewed diplomatic efforts based on the two-state solution and rejected any attempt to annex Palestinian territory or forcibly displace Palestinians.NETANYAHU RULES OUT WITHDRAWAL BEFORE HAMAS DISARMSThe joint statement came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli troops would not withdraw from their current positions in Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed. Posting on social media earlier this week, Netanyahu signalled that differences remained between Israel and the Trump administration over the implementation of the recently announced agreement.While the roadmap envisaged Hamas beginning the process of disarmament alongside a halt in Israeli strikes and a phased military withdrawal, Netanyahu insisted disarmament must come first."The Trump administration sent us a draft. We did not agree. It is not our draft. We sent our comments," Netanyahu said. "This is our position. We stand firm on our interests, I believe both wisely and resolutely."He also said Israeli forces would continue to "do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory, and our citizens".The standoff over the sequence of disarmament and troop withdrawal has emerged as one of the main obstacles to advancing the next phase of the ceasefire agreement.HUMANITARIAN CRISIS CONTINUESThe diplomatic exchange unfolded as Gaza continued to face a worsening humanitarian situation. Earlier this week, Palestinians held funeral prayers for more than 100 victims whose remains were recently recovered from beneath the rubble of a residential block destroyed during an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City in November 2023.The recovery became possible only after the October ceasefire reduced active fighting in parts of the territory. Rescue officials said many more bodies are still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings across Gaza.With Israel insisting that Hamas must first disarm and several Arab and Muslim nations accusing Israel of undermining the peace roadmap, the future of Trump's Gaza plan remains uncertain despite recent diplomatic momentum.- EndsPublished By: Satyam SinghPublished On: Aug 6, 2026 18:13 IST