Riyadh: Eight Arab and Islamic countries condemned on Sunday Israel’s rejection of US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, warning that this stance threatens to derail intensive efforts to end the war in the Strip.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, a joint statement issued by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia stated that this rejection “directly threatens to derail the intensive efforts exerted by Trump to end the war in Gaza and create the necessary conditions for achieving a lasting peace.”

The statement affirmed that Israel bears responsibility for obstructing peace efforts in Gaza and the Palestinian territories. The eight countries reiterated their rejection of the Israeli position on the American plan, stressing the importance of pushing for a settlement that ends the war and paves the way for stability and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

The statement, issued by the foreign ministers of the eight countries, called on the United States to pressure Israel. The statement said: “The ministers emphasize the importance of continued active US engagement to ensure and compel Israel to fully comply with the commitments and arrangements stipulated in the comprehensive plan and its associated roadmap, and to prevent any further obstruction of their implementation.”

The statement came amid intensive diplomatic efforts led by Washington to contain the escalation and reach arrangements that include a cessation of military operations and the launch of a political process to end the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier this month announced his rejection of Trump’s plan, describing it as unacceptable.