Islamabad, February 22, 2026: The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and the State of Palestine, along with the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), have strongly condemned recent remarks by the United States Ambassador to Israel suggesting that it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank.
In a joint statement, the ministers expressed profound concern and categorically rejected what they described as dangerous and inflammatory comments, warning that such statements constitute a flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
The foreign ministries stressed that the remarks directly contradict the vision articulated by US President Donald J. Trump and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, both of which emphasize de-escalation and the creation of a credible political horizon for a just and comprehensive settlement. They noted that attempts to legitimize control over the land of others undermine efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence, fuel tensions, and amount to incitement rather than peacebuilding.
Reaffirming their long-standing position, the ministers underscored that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands. They reiterated their firm rejection of any attempts to annex the West Bank, separate it from the Gaza Strip, expand illegal settlement activities, or threaten the sovereignty of Arab states.
The statement warned that the continuation of Israel’s expansionist policies and unlawful measures would further inflame violence and conflict across the region, severely undermining prospects for lasting peace. The ministers called for an immediate end to such provocative statements and renewed their unwavering commitment to the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with an end to the occupation of all Arab lands.
