The UAE on Thursday condemned statements by two Israeli ministers calling for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

The far-right officials - Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir – stated their support for encouraging Israeli settlers in Gaza and sought countries to absorb Gazans.

“The United Arab Emirates condemns in the strongest terms the extremist statements… calling for the displacement of Palestinians, in addition to re-occupying and building settlements in the Gaza Strip,” the Gulf state’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.

It also warned that the remarks threaten further escalation and instability in the region and called for “an urgent humanitarian ceasefire to end the bloodshed, and to facilitate the immediate, safe, sustainable, and unhindered delivery of relief and humanitarian aid…”

In a conference Wednesday, Anwar Gargash, the UAE president’s diplomatic adviser, said the Gulf state will stick by its decision to establish relations with Israel amid the war.

“The UAE has taken a strategic decision, and strategic decisions are long-term,” Gargash said, speaking at a conference. “There is no doubt that any strategic decision will face multiple obstacles, and we’re facing a major obstacle that must be dealt with.”

“There is no alternative to finding a political path to end the Israeli occupation,” Gargash said. “The Arab confrontation with Israel hasn’t been successful.”

Saudi Arabia also rejected the Israeli ministers’ statements and stressed that action should be taken against Israel’s violation of international laws.

The US and the EU, allies of Israel, also slammed the two politicians for suggesting emigration and settlements.

The US State Department’s spokesperson Matthew Miller criticized the call for a population transfer as “inflammatory and irresponsible.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he strongly condemns “the inflammatory and irresponsible statements by Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich slandering the Palestinian population of Gaza and calling for a plan for their emigration.”

In response to the US condemnation, Ben-Gvir hit-back saying: “The United States is our best friend, but first of all we will do what is best for the State of Israel: the migration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza will allow the (Israeli) residents of the envelope to return home and live in security and will protect the IDF (Israeli) soldiers.”

It has been over 90 days since Israel launched a full-scale attack on Gaza in what it calls a war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The October 7 escalation came after the militant group which controls Gaza infiltrated the Israeli border, killed over 1,200 civilians and took over 200 hostages.

A seven-day pause, which began on November 24 and was extended twice, had allowed for the exchange of dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli government says the militants are still holding 113 hostages.

The health ministry in Gaza said on Friday at least 22,600 people have been killed in the besieged territory since war with Israel erupted.

Israel’s war against Hamas has threatened to spill over into a wider regional conflict after the assassination of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in a drone strike blamed on Israel in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut.

Israel neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the killing.

Yemen’s Houthis have also waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict and have repeatedly attacked vessels in vital shipping lanes and fired drones and missiles at Israel.