Islamabad, February 9, 2025: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks suggesting that Palestinians should establish a state in Saudi Arabia, calling them “irresponsible, provocative, and thoughtless.”
Netanyahu made the controversial statement during an interview on pro-Netanyahu Channel 14, where he appeared to joke after an interviewer mistakenly said “Saudi state” instead of “Palestinian state.”
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, FM Dar said the remark was deeply offensive, disregarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent state on their historical land.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, commending its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and rejecting any misrepresentation of its position. FM Dar reiterated that Pakistan firmly supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He further stated that any attempt to displace Palestinians from their homeland is unacceptable, constituting a blatant violation of international law, UN resolutions, and principles of justice.
Pakistan also expressed support for convening an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the issue. The Foreign Office urged the international community to denounce Netanyahu’s remarks and hold Israel accountable for its continued attempts to undermine the peace process.
Saudi Arabia had earlier issued a statement categorically rejecting Netanyahu’s remarks. While the Saudi statement mentioned Netanyahu by name, it did not directly reference the suggestion of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory.
Egypt and Jordan also condemned the statement, with Cairo calling it a “direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty.”
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also strongly condemned Netanyahu’s remarks. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi called them “dangerous and irresponsible”, urging the international community to take a serious and decisive stance against Israeli aggression.
Discussions about the fate of Palestinians were further complicated by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected proposal that the U.S. should “take over Gaza” and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere.
Trump’s remarks sparked outrage across the Arab world, especially during a fragile ceasefire in Gaza following Israel’s military offensive.
Despite Trump’s claim that Saudi Arabia was not making a Palestinian state a condition for normalizing ties with Israel, Riyadh rejected his assertion, reiterating that it would not recognize Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state.
The conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, with Palestinian authorities reporting that Israel’s bombardment has killed over 47,000 people out of Gaza’s nearly 2 million population.
Israel launched its offensive after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources.
The GCC reaffirmed its unwavering support for Palestinian rights and praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in international efforts to resolve the conflict.
The organization called on the international community to take serious action against Israeli statements and policies that threaten regional stability and global security.
