ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and a group of Arab and Muslim countries have strongly condemned remarks by the United States Ambassador to Israel suggesting it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, along with the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed “strong condemnation and profound concern” over the comments.
The countries described the remarks as dangerous and inflammatory, saying they constitute a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
The statement said the comments contradict the vision presented by US President Donald J. Trump and the comprehensive plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, which seeks to contain escalation and create a political pathway toward a just settlement, ensuring an independent Palestinian state.
The ministers reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands.
They rejected any attempts to annex the West Bank or separate it from Gaza, and strongly opposed the expansion of Israeli settlements.
The joint statement also warned that continued expansionist policies and unlawful measures would fuel violence and undermine prospects for peace, urging an end to such statements.
The countries reiterated their commitment to the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent state along the pre-4 June 1967 borders, with an end to the occupation of all Arab lands.
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