February 17, 2026
Pakistan, seven Muslim nations condemn Israel's West Bank ‘state property’ move
Eight Muslim-majority countries, led by Pakistan, have condemned Israel's move to register parts of the West Bank as 'state property,' citing violations of international law.
February 17, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Eight Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, on Tuesday strongly condemned Israel’s decision to register large areas of the occupied West Bank as "state property," calling it a grave violation of international law.
According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli government approved the proposal—the first such move since its occupation of the territory in 1967—despite international law prohibiting an occupying power from confiscating land in occupied territories.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministries of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar denounced the step as an illegal escalation aimed at accelerating settlement expansion, land confiscation and entrenching Israeli control over the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The statement said the measure sought to impose “a new legal and administrative reality designed to consolidate control over the occupied land,” undermining the two-state solution and jeopardising prospects for a just and comprehensive peace.
The ministers described the decision as a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2334.
They further noted that the move contradicted the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which underscored the illegality of measures aimed at altering the legal, historical and demographic status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and reaffirmed the prohibition on acquisition of territory by force.
Israel’s foreign ministry, however, claimed the measure would enable “transparent and thorough clarification of rights to resolve legal disputes.”
Separately, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, described the measure as destabilising and unlawful, according to his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan also issued separate condemnations, while the European Union urged Israel to reverse the decision.
The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority called for international intervention to prevent what it termed the “de facto beginning of the annexation process” and to safeguard the foundations of a future Palestinian state.
