Gulf and regional foreign ministers condemn Israeli decision on West Bank lands
- Feb 17
- 1 min read
Riyadh, February 17, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye strongly condemned Israel’s decision to designate lands in the occupied West Bank as so-called "state land" and approve procedures for registration and settlement of land ownership across extensive areas for the first time since 1967.
The ministers described the decision as an illegal step that escalates illegal settlement activity, land confiscation, and Israeli control, undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. They stated that it violates international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334.
They also noted that the decision contradicts the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of Israeli policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which emphasizes the illegality of altering the legal, historical, and demographic status of the land and the obligation to end the occupation.
The ministers affirmed that the measure threatens the two-state solution, hinders the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state, and jeopardizes the prospects for a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
They reiterated their categorical rejection of all unilateral measures aimed at altering the legal, demographic, and historical status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and called on the international community to take decisive action to halt violations, ensure respect for international law, and safeguard the Palestinian people’s rights, including self-determination and establishing an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
