Gaza: A group of Arab foreign ministers has denounced Israel's decision to prevent their scheduled visit to the occupied West Bank, where they had planned to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah this Sunday.
The foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—who were expected to be joined by their Turkish counterpart—had intended to hold talks in support of Palestinian statehood. However, Israel announced on Friday that it would not authorize the visit, which required Israeli approval due to its control over the West Bank’s borders and airspace.
In a statement released Saturday, Jordan’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s move, calling it an obstruction of diplomatic engagement. The ministers criticized the Israeli decision as a deliberate attempt to undermine efforts toward peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
An Israeli official defended the decision, arguing that the meeting in Ramallah was designed to pressure Israel and promote a Palestinian state, despite what they described as the Palestinian Authority’s failure to condemn the Hamas-led attacks on October 7. The official labeled the gathering as “provocative” and contrary to Israeli security interests.
The move comes as momentum builds internationally in favor of a two-state solution. An upcoming conference in New York, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia from June 17–20, is set to further discuss pathways toward Palestinian statehood. French President Emmanuel Macron recently stated that recognizing a Palestinian state is not just a moral obligation but a “political necessity.”
Tensions in the occupied West Bank remain high. Just last week, Israeli forces fired near a diplomatic convoy—including representatives from the European Union, the UK, Russia, and China—near the Jenin refugee camp. The Israeli military claimed the convoy had strayed from a pre-approved route and that only warning shots were fired.
Meanwhile, Israel’s government has approved plans for 22 new settlements in the West Bank, including the legalization of previously unauthorized outposts—drawing criticism from Palestinian leaders and international human rights organizations. The International Court of Justice has ruled Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and has called for the dismantling of settlements in both the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Since the war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, the violence has escalated across the region. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that over 972 people have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank due to Israeli military operations and settler attacks. In Israel, the October 7 assault by Hamas resulted in 1,139 deaths and over 200 people taken hostage.
In Gaza, the Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 54,381 people have been killed and more than 124,000 wounded. The territory’s Government Media Office puts the death toll even higher—at more than 61,700—citing thousands believed to be buried beneath the rubble.
