Muslim nations including Pakistan express deep concern over Gaza crisis

The foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries voiced deep concern over a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, warning that severe winter weather and restricted humanitarian access are putting civilian lives at greater risk.

In a joint statement issued Friday, the ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates said heavy rainfall, storms and unstable winter conditions have compounded already dire circumstances in Gaza.

They said acute shortages of life-saving supplies persist, while the entry of materials needed to restore basic services and provide temporary housing remains slow and insufficient.

The ministers noted that nearly 1.9 million displaced Palestinians are living in inadequate shelters, including flooded camps and damaged tents, with some already weakened buildings collapsing.

They warned that exposure to extreme cold, malnutrition and an increased risk of disease outbreaks threatens civilians, particularly children, women, the elderly and people with medical vulnerabilities.

Gaza has faced widespread destruction and mass displacement following months of fighting, leaving much of its population dependent on humanitarian assistance and temporary shelter.

The ministers commended United Nations agencies, especially the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as international humanitarian organizations for continuing to assist Palestinian civilians under what they described as extremely difficult and complex conditions.

They demanded that Israel ensure sustained, predictable and unrestricted operations for U.N. bodies and international non-governmental organizations in Gaza and the West Bank.

Any attempt to impede humanitarian work is unacceptable, the statement said, given the critical role such organizations play in relief efforts.

The foreign ministers also reaffirmed full support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan, pledging to contribute to its successful implementation.

They said these efforts are aimed at sustaining the ceasefire, ending the war in Gaza, ensuring a dignified life for the Palestinian people and advancing a credible pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the ministers stressed the immediate need to initiate and scale up early recovery measures, including the provision of durable and dignified shelter to protect Gaza’s population from harsh winter conditions.

They called on the international community to meet its legal and moral responsibilities and urged pressure on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift restrictions on the entry and distribution of essential supplies.

Those supplies include tents, shelter materials, medical aid, clean water, fuel and sanitation support, the statement said.

The ministers also called for the immediate, full and unhindered flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza through the United Nations and its agencies, the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure and hospitals, and the opening of the Rafah Crossing in both directions.