Islamabad, January 2, 2026: The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expressed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, warning that harsh and unstable weather conditions have further aggravated an already dire crisis.
In a joint statement, the ministers said the situation in Gaza has been exacerbated by heavy rainfall and storms, coupled with insufficient humanitarian access, acute shortages of life-saving supplies, and delays in the entry of essential materials needed to rehabilitate basic services and establish temporary shelters.
They highlighted that severe weather has exposed the fragility of humanitarian conditions for nearly 1.9 million displaced people living in inadequate shelters. Flooded camps, damaged tents, the collapse of weakened buildings, and exposure to cold temperatures—combined with widespread malnutrition—have significantly increased risks to civilian lives, particularly among children, women, the elderly, and those with medical vulnerabilities. The ministers warned of heightened dangers of disease outbreaks under these conditions.
The foreign ministers commended the continued efforts of United Nations organizations and agencies, especially the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), as well as international humanitarian NGOs, for delivering assistance to Palestinian civilians despite extremely challenging circumstances. They demanded that Israel ensure UN agencies and international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza and the West Bank in a sustained, predictable and unrestricted manner, stressing that any attempt to impede their operations is unacceptable.
The ministers also reaffirmed their full support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan, and expressed their intention to contribute to its successful implementation. They said these efforts are essential to 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.
Stressing the urgency of the situation, the ministers called for the immediate initiation and scaling up of early recovery efforts, including the provision of durable and dignified shelters to protect civilians from harsh winter conditions.
They urged the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities and to pressure Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift restrictions on the entry and distribution of essential supplies. These include tents, shelter materials, medical assistance, clean water, fuel and sanitation support. The ministers further called for immediate, full and unhindered humanitarian access 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, in line with President Trump’s plan.
