Abu dhabi: The Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Trkiye, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Qatar have jointly condemned Israel's decision to designate lands in the occupied West Bank as "state land." This move includes the approval of procedures for land ownership registration and settlement across significant areas of the West Bank, a first since 1967.
According to Emirates News Agency, the ministers described this step as an illegal escalation intended to accelerate settlement activity, land confiscation, and the application of Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They emphasized that these actions undermine the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The ministers stated that these measures violate international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, and contravene United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. The decision is also at odds with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which highlighted the illegality of altering the legal, historical, and demographic status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The statement reflects concerns that this move seeks to impose a new legal and administrative reality to consolidate control over the occupied land, thereby threatening the two-State solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. The ministers warned that such measures jeopardize peace efforts in the region.
The ministers reiterated their rejection of all unilateral measures aimed at changing the status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They urged the international community to take decisive action to halt these violations and uphold international law, stressing the importance of safeguarding the Palestinian people's rights, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.