Arab and Islamic countries strongly condemn the Knesset's approval of imposing sovereignty in the West Bank

SadaNews - Arab and Islamic countries condemned on Thursday in the strongest terms the Israeli Knesset's approval of two bills aimed at imposing what is termed "Israeli sovereignty" over the occupied West Bank and the illegal Israeli colonial settlements.

The countries that signed the statement include: the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Djibouti, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the Republic of Gambia, the State of Palestine, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the State of Libya, Malaysia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

They considered this a blatant violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution No. (2334), which condemns all Israeli actions aimed at changing the demographic composition, character, and legal status of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem— in addition to the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which affirmed the illegality of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the nullity of the settlement and annexation activities in the occupied West Bank. They reiterated that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories.

These countries welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued on October 22, 2025, regarding Israel's obligations in the occupied Palestinian territories and in connection to those lands, which reaffirmed Israel's commitment under international humanitarian law to ensure that the residents of the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, obtain the basic necessities for daily life, and to approve and facilitate all possible relief plans for the population, including through the United Nations and its agencies, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The court emphasized Israel's obligation to respect the prohibition of using starvation as a method of warfare, noting that Israel prevents the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip, and reiterated the prohibition of mass forced displacement and evacuation, reminding that this also includes imposing intolerable living conditions on the population. The court once again affirmed the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to establish their independent state, reminding that the Israeli claim to sovereignty over East Jerusalem has been deemed "null and void" by the Security Council, which includes the so-called "Law to Stop UNRWA Operations in the Territory of the State of Israel," which claims to apply to East Jerusalem.

The countries warned against the continuation of Israeli unilateral and illegal policies and practices, calling on the international community to bear its legal and moral responsibilities, to compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation and illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, and to meet the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent and sovereign state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the only path to achieve a just and comprehensive peace that guarantees security and stability in the region.