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The file photo shows a view of part of the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photo: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
In a strongly worded joint statement issued just days before US President Donald Trump is set to chair the first summit of the Gaza Peace Council, Pakistan and seven other key Muslim countries on Tuesday condemned Israel’s decision to designate lands in the occupied West Bank as “state land” and expand settlement activity.
According to the joint statement issued by the State Department here, “The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar strongly condemn Israel’s decision to designate lands in the occupied West Bank as so-called “state land” and approve procedures for the registration and settlement of land ownership across the first time since extensive areas of land ownership and settlement. 1967.
The joint statement called the move an “illegal step” and a “serious escalation” aimed at accelerating illegal settlement activity, land confiscation, entrenching Israeli control and exercising illegal Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The ministers confirmed that the measures represent a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, primarily UN Security Council Resolution 2334.
They further stated that the decision is contrary to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The statement emphasized the illegality of measures aimed at changing the legal, historical and demographic status of the territory, the obligation to end the occupation and the prohibition of acquiring territory by force.
The statement said the move reflects an attempt to impose a new legal and administrative reality designed to consolidate control over occupied land, thereby undermining the two-state solution, eroding the prospects for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state, and jeopardizing efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
The ministers reiterated their categorical rejection of any unilateral measures aimed at changing the legal, demographic and historical status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, warning that such policies constitute a dangerous escalation that will further increase tensions and instability in the territory and the wider region.
They called on the international community to assume its responsibility and take clear and decisive steps to stop these violations, ensure respect for international law and protect the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, first and foremost the right to self-determination, end the occupation and establish an independent and sovereign state along June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Separately, the State Department announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State Senator Ishaq Dar will visit New York on February 18 to attend a high-level UN Security Council briefing on the situation in Palestine.
The meeting will be chaired by the UK Foreign Secretary in her capacity as President of the Security Council.
During the briefing, Dar will reaffirm Pakistan’s principled and consistent position on Palestine and reiterate strong opposition to Israel’s recent illegal decisions to expand its control over the West Bank.
He will emphasize the need for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2803, scaled-up humanitarian aid and the early start of Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also emphasize Pakistan’s continued engagement with international and regional partners, including the Group of Eight Arab and Islamic countries and the United States, in support of a just and lasting peace anchored in international law leading to the realization of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign and coherent pre-Palestinian state with a trans-border state. Al-Sharif as the capital.
On the sidelines of the visit, Dar will hold bilateral meetings with counterparts to discuss issues of common interest.
