In a significant diplomatic move, eight prominent Muslim nations, including Pakistan, have issued a collective demand to the international community. The coalition is calling for immediate and concrete measures to stop Israel’s escalating activities in the occupied West Bank. This unified stance comes after the Israeli security cabinet recently approved measures that aim to tighten control over the region and expand illegal settlements further into Palestinian lands.
A Unified Rejection of Illegal Annexation
According to reports from Independent Urdu, the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan released a joint communique on Monday. The statement, backed by Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, strictly declared Israel’s attempts to annex Palestinian territories as null and void. The foreign ministers of these nations condemned the moves in the strongest possible terms, describing them as a blatant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
Violation of International Law and UN Resolutions
The joint statement highlighted that Israel’s expansionist policies are designed to impose illegal sovereignty and create a new administrative reality on the ground. These actions, the ministers warned, increase the risk of mass displacement of the Palestinian population. The coalition emphasized that Israel holds no legal sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories. They noted that these policies fuel violence and instability across the entire Middle East, undermining the fragile security situation.
The Threat to the Two-State Solution
The eight nations reiterated that such illegal steps are a direct assault on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. They maintained that any solution must be based on the two-state model, ensuring the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital. The communique explicitly mentioned that Israel’s actions contradict UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemns any change to the demographic composition or status of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
Citing the International Court of Justice
The declaration also referenced the 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ has already categorized Israel’s continued presence and policies in the occupied territories as illegal, calling for a total end to the occupation and the reversal of annexation efforts. The foreign ministers urged the global community to fulfill its legal and moral duties by forcing Israel to stop its dangerous escalations and provocative rhetoric from government officials.
The Path to Regional Peace
Concluding the joint statement, the Muslim nations stressed that a just and comprehensive peace is the only way to ensure regional stability. This peace can only be achieved through the realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people as outlined in international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. The coalition remains committed to advocating for Palestinian sovereignty on the global stage, urging world powers to transition from condemnation to action to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the West Bank.