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UAE, 7 other countries condemn Israel's 'illegal' approval of West Bank land registration
The foreign ministers warned that these measures undermine the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people
- PUBLISHED: Tue 17 Feb 2026, 1:02 PM UPDATED: Tue 17 Feb 2026, 1:12 PM
The foreign ministers of the UAE, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt have strongly condemned Israel's "illegal" decision to classify lands in the occupied West Bank as so-called "state lands". They also condemned Israel's decision to approve the start of large-scale land registration and settlement procedures in the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967.
In a statement, the ministers described the move as "illegal" and warned that it represents a serious escalation aimed at accelerating settlement expansion, confiscating land, entrenching Israeli control, and imposing illegal Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory. They said the measures undermine the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
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The ministers affirm that such actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2334.
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They also referred to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which concluded that Israel’s occupation and policies in the Palestinian territories are illegal. They noted that these measures were aimed at altering the legal, historical, and demographic status of the occupied Palestinian territory.
The ministers warned that the move seeks to impose a new legal and administrative reality aimed at consolidating control over West Bank, undermine the two-state solution, and diminish the prospects for establishing an independent and viable Palestinian state. They also said that it jeopardises efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
The ministers reiterate their categorical rejection of all unilateral measures aimed at altering the legal, demographic, and historical status of the occupied Palestinian territory. They noted that these policies represent a dangerous escalation that will further exacerbate tension and instability in the occupied Palestinian territory and the entire region.
They renewed their call on the international community to take clear decisive steps to halt what they described as violations of international law, ensure accountability, and safeguard the rights of the Palestinians, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
