A coalition of regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, has sharply criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, accusing it of continuing attacks that have devastated civilian neighborhoods and damaged hospitals and other essential facilities.
The statement, issued jointly by the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia alongside several other countries, expressed alarm over the mounting civilian death toll and the destruction that has engulfed the Palestinian enclave.
The ministers denounced what they described as repeated violations targeting civilian infrastructure, saying that healthcare institutions and residential areas have borne the brunt of the violence. They also voiced concern over the growing humanitarian crisis as the conflict stretches on.
Israel swiftly rejected the accusations, arguing that the criticism ignores Hamas’ activities inside Gaza. Officials from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the statement misrepresented the situation on the ground and unfairly blamed Israel while overlooking what they called continued violations by Hamas.
Doron Spielman, an international spokesperson for the prime minister’s office, said that any long-term solution depends on Gaza becoming demilitarized. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas has continued to recruit fighters, rebuild underground tunnel networks and prepare for future attacks despite diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
Although Israel agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the United States last October, military operations in Gaza have continued in the months since. Palestinian health officials say around 1,200 people have been killed during that period, with women and children accounting for a significant portion of the casualties. Hamas has released limited information regarding losses among its own fighters.
The latest exchange of accusations comes as diplomatic efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump seek to revive momentum for a broader peace framework. Trump recently said progress had been made on a 20-point proposal intended to end the war, adding that Hamas had indicated a willingness to surrender its weapons.
The conflict erupted after Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, setting off a war that has transformed much of Gaza into a landscape of rubble and deepened tensions across the Middle East.
