Gulf Countries Condemn Israel’s Illegal Actions in Occupied West Bank

Riyadh / New Delhi: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye have issued a joint statement strongly condemning recent Israeli decisions and measures in the occupied West Bank.

The ministers said these actions aim to impose unlawful Israeli sovereignty, entrench settlement activity, and create a new legal and administrative reality that accelerates illegal annexation and the displacement of the Palestinian people.

In their statement, the ministers reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory and warned that continued expansionist policies in the West Bank are fueling violence and instability across the region. They stressed that such measures undermine international efforts to maintain peace and threaten to further escalate conflict.

The ministers expressed absolute rejection of what they described as illegal Israeli actions, emphasizing that these steps constitute a blatant violation of international law and directly undermine the two state solution. They stated that the actions represent an assault on the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent and sovereign state along the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The joint statement affirmed that Israeli measures in the occupied West Bank are null and void and violate binding United Nations Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334, which condemns all actions aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. The ministers also referenced the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which found that Israel’s continued presence and policies in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal and reaffirmed the necessity of ending the occupation and rejecting annexation.

The foreign ministers called on the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities by compelling Israel to halt its actions in the occupied West Bank and to stop inflammatory statements by Israeli officials. They stressed that protecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self determination and statehood remains essential for achieving lasting peace.

The statement concluded by reaffirming that a just and comprehensive peace can only be achieved through the two state solution in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. The ministers emphasized that this remains the sole path to ensuring long term security and stability in the region.