Eight Muslim-Majority Countries Renew Joint Push on Gaza, Jerusalem and Palestinian Statehood

NEW YORK: Eight Muslim-majority countries have renewed a coordinated diplomatic push focused on Gaza, humanitarian access, Jerusalem’s holy sites and a pathway toward Palestinian statehood.

Foreign ministers from Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement after talks in New York. They expressed concern over humanitarian suffering in Gaza and called for safe, unhindered delivery of aid and early-recovery supplies.

Jerusalem remains central

The ministers also raised concern about measures they believe undermine the historical and legal status quo of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. The issue is especially sensitive because religious sites in the city carry significance for Muslims, Christians and Jews, while sovereignty and access remain bound up with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A coordinated diplomatic approach

The statement emphasised keeping Gaza connected to the wider Palestinian territories and backed a political pathway toward a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital through a two-state framework.

The significance of the initiative lies in the range of participating countries. It brings together Arab states with major non-Arab Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan and Türkiye, creating a broader diplomatic platform rather than a narrowly regional one.

Whether such statements produce concrete changes will depend on implementation, humanitarian access, security conditions and engagement by major international powers. But coordinated diplomacy can shape negotiations by establishing shared priorities and maintaining political pressure around civilian protection and a longer-term settlement.

For Muslim audiences worldwide, Gaza and Jerusalem remain among the most closely followed international issues. The latest joint position shows that these governments are trying to keep humanitarian relief and Palestinian political rights on the international agenda at the same time.

Source: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs joint statement.