WEB DESK: Seventeen countries and organizations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Arab League, have strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a bill to annex the West Bank.
In a joint statement, they described the move as a blatant violation of international laws and United Nations Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334. This resolution condemns Israeli actions aimed at changing the demographic composition, character, and legal status of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.
The statement emphasized that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has affirmed the unlawfulness of Israel’s occupation, settlement, and annexation of Palestinian lands.
The joint declaration also underscored that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories. Additionally, the statement welcomed the ICJ’s recent opinion regarding Israeli responsibilities in Gaza amid ongoing conflict.
Furthermore, the signatories urged Israel to halt unilateral and illegal actions and to fulfill its moral and legal responsibilities towards the international community. They reiterated that the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, remains the only path to lasting peace and stability in the region.
