Pakistan joins 8 nations in condemning Israel’s West Bank land claim

Pakistan joins a chorus of Muslim nations condemning Israel’s controversial decision to register large areas of land in the West Bank as state property, labelling it illegal and harmful to regional stability.

Eight Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have collectively denounced Israel’s move. They describe this decision as a step towards accelerating settlement activity and consolidating control over occupied Palestinian territory, threatening the viability of the two-state solution.

In a joint statement released by their foreign ministers, these nations accused Israel of an act that violates international law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which calls for halting settlements in the occupied territories. The measure also defies a landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Israeli policies in Palestinian areas.

The eight-country statement further warns that such land registration decisions constitute a new legal and administrative reality, undermining efforts towards peace and self-determination for Palestinians. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister reiterated support for an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside calls for international intervention to halt these measures.

Simultaneously, renewed violence in Gaza has added urgency to this diplomatic dispute. Israeli airstrikes over the past weekend resulted in at least eleven Palestinian casualties, with medical and relief officials reporting significant harm from civilian-targeted strikes.

The escalating conflict comes amid a backdrop of rising tensions and territorial disputes in the region. The United Nations Secretary-General described Israel’s decision as unlawful and destabilising, while the European Union urged Israel to reverse its course. Multiple regional actors have also issued condemnations, with Japan among them.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has expressed solidarity with these nations’ stance, reiterating the need for a peaceful resolution that respects Palestinian sovereignty and rights. As international scrutiny intensifies over this development, policymakers face growing pressure to address the underlying issues of occupation, settlement expansion, and peace negotiations in the region.