In a significant development, two Muslim countries have slammed Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu for his statement regarding the displacement of Palestinians, including through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. Egypt and Qatar have strongly criticized Netanyahu’s remarks on Gaza. Qatar denounced the statement as further proof of Israel’s disregard for Palestinian rights and international law.
In a statement on Friday, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) described the comments as “an extension of the occupation’s approach to violating the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, its contempt for international laws and agreements, and its poisonous efforts to block opportunities for peace, especially the two-state solution”.
What Netanyahu Said
In an interview with the Israeli Telegram channel Abu Ali Express, Netanyahu asserted that there were “different plans for how to rebuild Gaza.” He also claimed that half of the population wants to leave Gaza, insisting that this was “not a mass expulsion”.
“I can open Rafah for them, but it will be closed immediately by Egypt,” he said.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Netanyahu’s words show Israel’s larger plan to take land from Palestinians. They also warned that this could harm peace and stability in the region.
Qatar reiterated that the policy of collective punishment pursued by Israel against Palestinians, particularly through its military actions in Gaza, represents a continuation of Israel’s crimes.
“The policy of collective punishment practised by the occupation against the Palestinians, including the ongoing brutal war of genocide in the Gaza Strip, its crimes in the West Bank, its violations of religious sanctities, its plans to expand settlements and Judaize Jerusalem, and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid to civilians, will not succeed in forcing the Palestinian people to leave their land or in confiscating their legitimate rights,” the statement added.
Egypt Also Slams Netanyahu
Egypt too firmly rejected this idea and stated, “categorical opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians.” The ministry said these actions would break international humanitarian law and could be considered war crimes. It also said Egypt would never take part in them and called the issue a “red line.”
