Pakistan, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and several Arab states have issued a strong joint condemnation against Israel's recent legislative moves aimed at annexing parts of the occupied West Bank. This coordinated response comes in reaction to the Israeli Knesset’s preliminary approval of two bills that seek to impose Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank and expand control over illegal settlements, a move widely deemed a violation of international law and a severe blow to the prospects of peace in the region.

The joint statement, endorsed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Indonesia, Türkiye, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, and others, alongside the League of Arab States and the OIC, decries Israel's attempt as a blatant defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). These legal frameworks explicitly forbid any measures that alter the demographic structure or status of occupied Palestinian territories since 1967, including East Jerusalem.

The signatories reaffirm that Israel holds no sovereignty over the West Bank or any occupied Palestinian land and call on the international community to take immediate and decisive action to halt these illegal annexation efforts. They view such moves as not only illegal but also as a direct threat to the viability of a two-state solution, which envisions peaceful coexistence between Israel and an independent Palestine.

Pakistan's foreign ministry described the annexation bills as provocative and unlawful, emphasizing that these steps undermine ongoing peace efforts and stability in the region. The timing of the Knesset vote, despite opposition from former US President Donald Trump and during a visit by US Vice President JD Vance aiming to maintain a ceasefire in Gaza, underscores the tension surrounding the issue.

The Israeli occupation, ongoing since 1967, has subjected over four million Palestinians in the West Bank to military rule, while the expansion of settlements has exacerbated hardships amid frequent clashes. Since October 2023, violence and Israeli military actions in the West Bank have led to significant Palestinian casualties and hundreds of detentions.

Beyond this immediate reaction, the OIC and Arab states are strategizing to rally global diplomatic support against Israel's annexation plans. They are urging member countries with diplomatic ties to Israel to consider political, legal, and economic measures to counter the annexation and support the Palestinian people's rights. This united front highlights a broader regional commitment to preserving international law and seeking a just resolution to the conflict.