Muslim-majority countries worried Israel aims to transfer Gazans to Egypt with opening of Rafah Crossing

Egyptian trucks and heavy machinery line up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip on October 26, 2025. (AFP)
Egyptian trucks and heavy machinery line up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip on October 26, 2025. (AFP)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Gaza mediators Egypt and Qatar, and six other Muslim-majority countries, say they are concerned about Israel stating it would open a one-way crossing for Palestinians to exit the Strip.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates “expressed their deep concern regarding the statements issued by the Israeli side concerning the opening of the Rafah Crossing in one direction with the aim of transferring residents of the Gaza Strip to” Egypt, they say in a joint statement.

Israel announced on Wednesday that it will reopen the Rafah Border Crossing in the coming days for the exit of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt, though Cairo denied it was coordinating with Jerusalem on renewing operations at the facility.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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