UAE, Saudi denounce Israeli strikes in Gaza

The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan said on August 6 that they condemned what they called ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, including attacks on healthcare facilities, medical infrastructure and civilian sites. In a joint statement carried by state and regional media, the ministers said the strikes breached international law and threatened efforts to advance a ceasefire in Gaza. The statement added regional weight to warnings already coming from Palestinian officials and mediators that the next stage of the Gaza ceasefire framework had not taken hold on the ground. It also came as fighting widened again on Israel’s northern front, where Israeli forces struck southern Lebanon after two soldiers were killed in an explosion. (gulfnews.com) ### Which countries signed the condemnation? The eight countries named in the August 6 statement were the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan. The ministers said they were condemning attacks on hospitals, medical infrastructure, civilian facilities and the continued killing of civilians, including women and children. (egypttoday.com) Saudi and Emirati-aligned coverage said the ministers also called for enforcement of ceasefire efforts and protection for civilians. Ahram Online said the statement described the attacks as a breach of obligations under international law and under a broader plan to end the Gaza conflict. (gulfnews.com) ### What are Palestinian officials saying about the ceasefire? Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, said on August 5 that the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire remained “only on paper.” Egypt Today, citing the Palestinian news agency WAFA, reported that he said Israeli authorities were continuing military operations despite the announced deal. (english.alarabiya.net) That language underscored the gap between the diplomatic framework discussed by mediators and the reality of continuing strikes. Egypt Today reported earlier this month that Palestinian factions and mediators had been working on a roadmap for phase two of the ceasefire, including discussions involving Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. ### How does Lebanon fit into the same moment? (egypttoday.com) Israel struck southern Lebanon after two Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion in a booby-trapped building, according to Reuters, AP and other reports published on August 6. Israeli officials said the blast happened during operations in southern Lebanon, and subsequent strikes hit Lebanese territory as talks on a longer-term arrangement continued. (egypttoday.com) The New York Times briefing cited in the source material said Israel had accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire while negotiators met in Rome. Other reports said the Lebanon violence was the first Israeli military deaths since the June truce began, underscoring how unstable that front remained. ### Why are Arab states focusing on healthcare facilities? (yahoo.com) The August 6 statement singled out healthcare facilities and medical infrastructure, not only civilian casualties in general. Gulf News, WAFA and Al Arabiya all reported that the ministers highlighted medical sites alongside broader civilian infrastructure in their condemnation. (usnews.com) That phrasing matters because attacks on hospitals and medical systems have become a central point of diplomatic pressure in statements by Arab governments and Palestinian officials. In this case, the ministers tied those attacks directly to the viability of the ceasefire effort rather than treating them as a separate humanitarian issue. (gulfnews.com) ### What happens next in the diplomacy? Egypt, Qatar and Turkey remained central named mediators in reporting on the Gaza talks, while Rome was the site identified for discussions on the Lebanon track. Palestinian and regional statements pointed to the same immediate next test: whether the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire can move beyond framework language into implementation. (gulfnews.com) The next public markers are likely to come from mediator statements, Palestinian Authority updates and any further joint declarations by the eight foreign ministers. As of August 6, those governments were publicly calling for enforcement of the ceasefire and protection of civilian and medical infrastructure in Gaza. (gulfnews.com) (egypttoday.com)