Eight countries ‘strongly denounce’ ongoing Israeli violations in Gaza

Lead

Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Muslim nations have issued a joint statement expressing their "strongest condemnation and denunciation" of ongoing Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, with particular emphasis on strikes against healthcare facilities and civilian infrastructure. The statement was published on Thursday by Qatar's Foreign Ministry and signed by the top diplomats of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

The joint statement, as reported by Al Jazeera and the Russian state agency TASS, says the deliberate targeting of hospitals, ambulances, and medical personnel amounts to a "grave" breach of international humanitarian law. The foreign ministers stressed that protecting medical facilities and health workers, and ensuring the immediate and unhindered delivery of medical supplies and aid across Gaza, are legal obligations that cannot be compromised under any circumstances.

Coverage comparison

Al Jazeera's report leads with the condemnation and describes the signatories as expressing their "strongest condemnation and denunciation" of Israeli violations. The outlet emphasizes the targeting of healthcare infrastructure, describing it as a "grave breach" of international humanitarian law, and frames Israel's actions as sabotaging the ceasefire agreement. Al Jazeera also includes a statement from Hamas welcoming the joint statement and urging mediators and the US administration to compel Israel to halt its violations.

TASS's report, published under a Doha dateline, adopts a more formal tone and attributes the statement directly to the Qatari Foreign Ministry. The Russian agency highlights the legal dimension, quoting the ministers as saying the continuation of "these crimes" is a clear violation of Israel's obligations under international law and the comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, undermining international and regional efforts to implement the second phase of that plan. TASS also includes the ministers' view that Israel's actions in Gaza are linked to settler attacks in the West Bank and attempts to change the status of Jerusalem.

Key claims

The joint statement asserts that Israeli strikes on medical facilities and civilian infrastructure constitute a violation of international law and the comprehensive plan to end the conflict. The signatories condemned attacks on civilian areas and the continued killing of Palestinians, including women and children.

Hamas, the Palestinian group governing Gaza, welcomed the statement, saying it reflected the gravity of Israeli violations that threaten the entire ceasefire agreement. The group urged signatory states, mediators, and the US administration to act immediately to stop Israel from "sabotaging the agreement," adding that Palestinian factions had engaged responsibly with the roadmap and that pressure should now fall on Israel.

TASS reports that US President Donald Trump announced that Palestinian factions had accepted a roadmap that includes provisions on arms control. The same report notes that in January 2025, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, and that on July 30, 2026, Trump announced agreement on a second phase providing for the complete disarmament of Palestinian armed groups.

Al Jazeera reports that Gaza's health system remains close to collapse despite the ceasefire, with only about half of the enclave's 36 hospitals partially functional. The outlet also cites a shortage of cancer and blood-disorder medicines reaching 61 percent. Additionally, Al Jazeera reports that at least 300 children have been killed in Gaza in the 300 days since the ceasefire came into effect, according to UNICEF. The outlet also cites the Government Media Office in Gaza as reporting 4,091 ceasefire violations over 300 days, killing more than 1,254 Palestinians and wounding 4,121.

Perspectives

The eight foreign ministers (Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye) argue that Israel's actions constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law and a violation of the ceasefire plan, demanding immediate action to protect medical personnel and ensure the delivery of aid.

Hamas, while welcoming the statement, insists that Palestinian factions have engaged responsibly with the roadmap and that the onus is on Israel to halt its violations and meet its obligations under the agreement.

The United States, represented by President Donald Trump, and the mediating states (Qatar and Egypt) are referenced in the context of the announced roadmap and ceasefire phases, but no direct statement from these parties appears in the provided material.