In a significant diplomatic move, eight nations have issued a forceful condemnation of Israel’s settlement policies in the occupied West Bank. The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt released a joint statement characterizing Israel’s recent measures as unlawful attempts to impose sovereignty and accelerate the illegal annexation of Palestinian territories.
The ministers declared that Israel possesses no legitimate sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory, emphasizing that these expansionist policies exacerbate regional violence and conflict. They expressed their categorical rejection of what they described as blatant violations of international law, particularly noting how these actions undermine the two-state solution framework.
The coalition specifically referenced UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemns Israeli measures aimed at altering the demographic composition of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. Additionally, they invoked the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which found Israel’s occupation and policies in Palestinian territories illegal and called for their termination.
The ministers renewed their appeal for the international community to fulfill its legal and moral obligations by compelling Israel to halt its escalation in the West Bank. They reiterated that the realization of Palestinian self-determination and statehood, based on the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative, represents the only viable path toward achieving comprehensive regional peace and stability.