The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye have collectively issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s recent actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, emphasizing that such measures are illegal under international law and violate the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.
Speaking on the issue of the occupied West Bank, the ministers highlighted that Israel’s decisions, which seek to impose unilateral sovereignty, expand settlements, and establish new administrative frameworks, are not only unlawful but also constitute an aggressive attempt to alter the region’s political and demographic landscape. According to the statement, these actions amount to a de facto annexation of Palestinian lands and threaten to forcibly displace Palestinian communities, undermining their rights and dignity.
In their joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed a central principle of international law: Israel has no sovereign authority over the occupied Palestinian territories. They expressed serious concern over the persistent expansionist policies and illegal practices pursued by the Israeli government, noting that such measures exacerbate tensions, fuel violence, and destabilize the broader region. The ministers described Israel’s actions as a direct challenge to the pursuit of peace, emphasizing that unilateral steps undermine both regional stability and the prospects of a just resolution to the Palestinian issue. They further stressed that these policies threaten to reverse decades of international efforts aimed at establishing a viable, independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The foreign ministers explicitly rejected all Israeli moves to entrench settlement activity or to impose new legal and administrative regimes in the West Bank, categorizing them as null and void. These measures, they said, constitute a blatant breach of UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334, which condemns any actions designed to change the demographic composition or status of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.
In addition, they referred to the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which determined that Israel’s ongoing occupation and its policies in the West Bank are illegal under international law. The advisory opinion also emphasized the need to terminate the occupation and affirmed that any attempts to annex Palestinian lands lack legal validity.
By stressing the illegality of Israel’s actions, the ministers made clear that the international community has both a moral and legal responsibility to respond. They renewed their call for states and organizations worldwide to hold Israel accountable and to ensure that it ceases its aggressive escalation in the West Bank. The ministers also expressed concern about inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli officials, warning that such statements further incite tension, violence, and instability in the region. They argued that unchecked, these actions could irreversibly damage the prospects of peace and perpetuate the suffering of Palestinian civilians.
Highlighting the impact on the Palestinian people, the ministers underscored that Israel’s policies undermine their fundamental right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state. They reaffirmed that the Palestinian state should be realized along the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as recognized under international law and supported by numerous UN resolutions. The ministers described the illegal measures taken by Israel as not only a direct assault on Palestinian rights but also a broader threat to regional peace, stability, and security.
The statement noted that Israel’s efforts to solidify settlements and implement new legal structures in the West Bank aim to unilaterally reshape the political landscape, thereby foreclosing the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution. Such attempts, according to the ministers, violate the principles of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, which remains a cornerstone framework for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They highlighted that Israel’s unilateral actions are counterproductive, fueling resentment, resistance, and further polarization between the parties.
The ministers emphasized that the realization of a just and comprehensive peace in the region is inextricably linked to respecting the legal and historic rights of the Palestinian people. They noted that peace can only be achieved through adherence to international norms, the cessation of illegal settlement activity, and the end of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. The ministers also stressed that political stability in the region requires upholding the two-state solution as the only viable path to a sustainable resolution that guarantees security, sovereignty, and coexistence for both Palestinians and Israelis.
In their condemnation, the foreign ministers highlighted that Israel’s actions violate not only international law but also the foundational principles of diplomacy, justice, and human rights. They argued that the imposition of new administrative and legal measures in occupied areas is designed to normalize the occupation and create facts on the ground that make the establishment of a Palestinian state increasingly difficult. The ministers warned that the continued implementation of such policies could have far-reaching consequences for regional security and undermine the broader international system, which is committed to conflict resolution and the upholding of human rights.
The ministers collectively called on the global community to take immediate and decisive action. They urged all countries, international organizations, and multilateral institutions to enforce existing UN resolutions, support the principles of international law, and hold Israel accountable for its illegal measures. They further stressed that preventing further escalation and ensuring the protection of Palestinian civilians should be prioritized, and that any attempts at annexation or unilateral changes to the status of the West Bank must be categorically rejected.
Furthermore, the ministers pointed out that Israel’s illegal activities threaten decades of diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a negotiated peace between Israelis and Palestinians. They asserted that unilateral measures do not resolve the conflict but rather deepen mistrust and prolong the cycle of violence. By violating internationally recognized boundaries, imposing settlements, and undermining Palestinian governance, Israel is eroding the prospects for a two-state solution that is widely supported by the international community, including Arab states.
The ministers reiterated that the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, sovereignty, and the establishment of their independent state remain non-negotiable. They called for renewed international commitment to protect these rights, prevent illegal annexation, and ensure that Israel complies with international obligations. The statement emphasized that fulfilling the aspirations of the Palestinian people in accordance with UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative is essential for achieving lasting peace and security in the Middle East.
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye reaffirmed their united stance against Israel’s illegal policies in the West Bank. They stressed that international law, UN resolutions, and historical agreements provide the framework for a just settlement of the conflict.
They reiterated that the international community must act to halt Israel’s unilateral measures, uphold the rights of the Palestinian people, and ensure that the vision of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital remains achievable. Only through such adherence to law, diplomacy, and collective responsibility can sustainable peace, stability, and security in the region be realized