Eight nations led by Türkiye demand Israel lift Gaza aid restrictions

A group of eight nations led by Türkiye has issued a united diplomatic call demanding Israel remove all restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. In a joint statement on Friday, the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar warned that the crisis is deteriorating sharply as severe winter weather compounds the blockade.

Weather Exposes 'Fragility' of Living Conditions

The ministers expressed grave concern that severe storms, heavy rain, and freezing temperatures have exposed "the fragility of existing humanitarian conditions." They highlighted the acute vulnerability of nearly 1.9 million displaced Palestinians, many of whom are living in makeshift tents and inadequate shelters that offer little protection from the elements. The statement argued that adverse weather has laid bare the catastrophic consequences of aid restrictions and critical shortages of life-saving supplies.

Demand for Unimpeded UN and NGO Operations

The coalition demanded that Israel guarantee the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations can operate "in a sustained, predictable and unrestricted manner" throughout Gaza and the West Bank. The ministers praised the efforts of UN agencies, particularly the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and stressed that "Any attempt to impede their ability to operate is unacceptable." They called for the immediate scaling-up of early recovery efforts, including durable shelter, and urged the international community to pressure Israel to allow unimpeded aid through all crossings, including Rafah.

Endorsement of International Peace Framework

In their statement, the eight nations reaffirmed "their full support" for UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and US President Donald Trump's "Comprehensive Plan." They expressed their intention to contribute to the implementation of these frameworks with the aim of sustaining the ceasefire, ending the war, securing a dignified life for Palestinians, and advancing a credible path toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood. This unified stance from a diverse group of Muslim-majority nations amplifies the pressure on Israel and the international community to address both the immediate humanitarian emergency and the longer-term political solution.