Arab nations and UN condemn Israel for refusing to fully open key border crossing and storming of compound
With its refusal to fully open the Rafah border crossing, the targeting of a United Nations’ compound and steady attacks and killings of Palestinians, Israel has continued to breach the U.S.-brokered so-called ceasefire in Gaza.
Part of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan included opening the Rafah crossing in both directions to allow aid into the Gaza Strip. Not only has aid continued to be weaponized in Gaza, but Israel has also announced it would only open the Rafah crossing for exit.
“In accordance with the ceasefire agreement and a directive of the political echelon, the Rafah Crossing will open in the coming days exclusively for the exit of residents from the Gaza Strip to Egypt,” the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, an Israeli military unit, announced in a Dec. 3 post on X.
“The residents’ exit through the Rafah Crossing will be facilitated through coordination with Egypt, following security approval by Israel and under the supervision of the European Union mission, similar to the mechanism that operated in January 2025.”
In January 2025, under a temporary so-called ceasefire that was eventually violated by Israel, the crossing reopened briefly for medical evacuations. The crossing is a key entry and exit point between Gaza and Egypt and has been described as Gaza’s primary access to the outside world.
Eight foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic nations—Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia—released a joint statement on Dec. 5 expressing “deep concern” over the Rafah crossing announcement.
“The ministers emphasize their complete rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement said. The foreign ministers referenced President Trump’s plan to open the crossing in both directions, which they say would guarantee freedom of movement for residents and ensure that no one in the Gaza Strip would be forced to leave.
“They further underscore the need to create suitable conditions for Palestinians to remain on their land and participate in building their homeland, within a comprehensive vision for restoring stability and improving their humanitarian situation,” the statement said.
In addition, the foreign ministers emphasized “the need to fully establish a ceasefire, end the suffering of civilians, ensure the unrestricted and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, initiate early recovery and reconstruction efforts, and create the conditions for the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities in Gaza.”
Since its creation in 1948 on lands that were already occupied, the State of Israel has been responsible for the expulsion and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians with the full backing of the United States.
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad addressed this in His book, “The Fall of America,” in the chapter, “The Destruction and Fall.”
“America and England deposited their little brother, Israel, on foreign soil, Palestine, which is Arab land. They deprived the Arabs of their own land and sent them into exile.
This injustice against the Arabs is now costing America the power and authority that she once exercised in the East. She is on her way out of the Near East. This means bloodshed and plenty of it,” He writes.
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, has also been a consistent warner about Israel’s infractions and motives in the Middle East and their ultimate goal.
In his keynote address delivered at the Nation of Islam’s 2024 Saviours’ Day convention, titled “What Does Allah The Great Mahdi and The Great Messiah Have To Say About The War In The Middle East?” Minister Farrakhan laid out the plans of Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Their intention was to cleanse Gaza of every Palestinian that lived there and cleanse the West Bank and East Jerusalem so that Israel would not be bothered with Palestinians anymore,” he said. “Rafah is the last major city in Gaza,” he added. “They have killed so many of our people, and thousands are lost under the rubble.”
He pointed out that Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu are using Hamas’ actions to justify removing Palestinians from Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. What Minister Farrakhan has warned of is coming to pass as Israel continues its onslaught, misdeeds and violence.
The eight foreign ministers released another joint statement on Dec. 12 condemning the storming of an East Jerusalem compound owned by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Israeli authorities forcibly entered the compound on Dec. 8, according to a statement by UNRWA.
“Police motorcycles, as well as trucks and forklifts, were brought in and all communications were cut. Furniture, IT equipment and other property was seized.
The UN flag was pulled down and replaced with an Israeli flag,” the statement said. “This latest action represents a blatant disregard of Israel’s obligation as a United Nations Member State to protect and respect the inviolability of UN premises.”
UNRWA personnel vacated the compound in early 2025 after what the organization cites as months of harassment, including arson attacks, intimidation tactics and anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Israeli parliament.
Though vacant, “the compound retains its status as a UN premises, immune from any form of interference,” the statement said.
The eight Arab and Islamic foreign ministers described the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law” and a violation of the International Court of Justice’s Oct. 22 advisory opinion stating that Israel, as an occupying power, is under an obligation to facilitate UNRWA operations, not impede them.
UNRWA provides humanitarian assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees, including education, health care, social services and emergency assistance.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the unauthorized entry of Israeli forces into the UNRWA compound.
“As recently confirmed by the International Court of Justice, any executive, administrative, judicial or legislative action against United Nations property and assets is prohibited,” he said in a Dec. 8 statement.
“I urge Israel to immediately take all necessary steps to restore, preserve and uphold the inviolability of UNRWA premises and to refrain from taking any further action with regard to UNRWA premises, in line with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and its other obligations under international law, including those concerning privileges and immunities of the United Nations.”
In addition to continued blockage of humanitarian aid through the closure of the Rafah crossing and storming the UNRWA compound, Israel has not let up on its killings of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip or its raids in the West Bank.
Since the so-called ceasefire took effect, at least 383 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, and 1,002 have been injured, according to updated numbers published by Al Jazeera on Dec. 12. Israel violated the ceasefire at least 738 times between Oct. 10 and Dec. 12, Al Jazeera referenced a report from Gaza’s Government Media Office.
“Israel attacked Gaza on 51 out of the past 64 days of the ceasefire, meaning there were only 11 days during which no violent attacks, deaths or injuries were reported,” according to analysis by Al Jazeera.
The publication also reported that from Oct. 10 to Dec. 12, only 7,977 aid trucks arrived at their intended destination in Gaza, short of the 38,400 trucks that were supposed to have entered by Dec. 12, per the peace plan agreement of 600 trucks per day.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, from Oct. 7, 2023 to Dec. 11, 2025, Israel killed at least 70,373 people and injured at least 171,079 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.