Pakistan condemns latest Israeli illegal measures in Occupied West Bank

2026-02-16 - 08:16

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has strongly condemned the latest attempt by the Israeli occupying power to convert areas of the Occupied West Bank into so-called state property and to expand illegal settlement activities. A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad said such steps are in clear violation of international law as well as relevant United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and must be rejected by the international community. The statement further said the occupying power’s continued disregard for the international law and its provocative actions undermine the prospects for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region. Pakistan called on the international community to take concrete measures to end Israeli impunity and ensure respect for international law. Pakistan also reaffirmed full support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Israel approves West Bank land plan amid annexation outcry The Israeli government has approved a controversial plan to declare vast tracts of land in the occupied West Bank as “state property” in cases where Palestinians fail to provide documentary proof of ownership, triggering strong condemnation from Palestinian authorities and several regional states. According to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, the proposal was jointly introduced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defence Minister Israel Katz. Smotrich described the measure as part of what he termed a broader “settlement revolution” aimed at asserting control over the land, while Levin said it reflected the government’s resolve to reinforce its authority across all areas under its jurisdiction. The decision allows Israel to restart land title settlement procedures that were halted after its occupation of the West Bank in 1967. Under the new framework, once authorities initiate registration in a designated area, individuals claiming ownership will be required to submit legal documents to substantiate their claims. However, Palestinians argue that decades of conflict, displacement and administrative barriers have made it extremely difficult to preserve ownership records. Many properties were never formally registered due to lengthy and costly legal requirements, including the need for decades-old documentation that may have been lost or destroyed. Analysts warn that the move could result in large-scale dispossession, particularly in Area C — a region established under the Oslo Accords in the 1990s and currently under full Israeli military control. Area C is home to more than 300,000 Palestinians, many of whom rely on its agricultural and grazing lands for their livelihoods. The Palestinian presidency condemned the decision as a serious escalation and a breach of international law, describing it as a form of “de facto annexation”. It urged the international community, especially the United States and the United Nations Security Council, to intervene. The group Hamas also rejected the plan, calling it an attempt to appropriate Palestinian land by registering it under state ownership. It declared the step invalid and accused Israel of imposing settlement expansion in violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. Israeli anti-settlement organisation Peace Now criticised the decision, warning it could amount to one of the largest land appropriations in recent years. Hagit Ofran, who heads the group’s Settlement Watch programme, said the new process could enable Israel to assert control over a substantial portion of Area C, potentially affecting a large share of the West Bank. She indicated that implementation could begin as early as this year. Several regional governments issued strong statements condemning the move. Jordan, Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye described the measure as a violation of international law and humanitarian norms, including provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention and relevant UN Security Council resolutions such as Resolution 2334 of 2016. Turkiye stated that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territories and warned that such policies undermine efforts toward a negotiated two-state solution. There was no immediate response from the United States. While former US administrations have criticised settlement expansion, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains close ties with US President Donald Trump. Trump has previously ruled out formal annexation of the West Bank, though his administration has not taken steps to halt settlement construction. More than 700,000 Israelis currently reside in settlements in the occupied West Bank. In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued a non-binding advisory opinion stating that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlement activities are illegal under international law and should end at the earliest opportunity.