Oman, Arab, Islamic countries condemn Knesset’s approval of West Bank annexation

The Sultanate of Oman, together with fourteen Arab and Islamic countries, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, has strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of two draft laws aimed at imposing so-called “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank and the illegal Israeli colonial settlements.

The full statement reads as follows: “The Sultanate of Oman, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Republic of Djibouti, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of The 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 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation strongly condemn the Israeli Knesset’s approval of two draft laws intended to impose so-called “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank and the illegal Israeli colonial settlements.

“They regard this as a flagrant violation of international law and of United Nations Security Council resolutions, in particular Resolution 2334, which condemns all Israeli measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and legal status of the occupied Palestinian territory since 1967, including East Jerusalem. “They further recall the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which affirmed the illegality of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and the nullity of Israel’s settlement construction and land annexation measures in the occupied West Bank. The signatories reaffirm that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories.

“These countries welcome the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, issued on 22 October 2025, regarding Israel’s obligations in the occupied Palestinian territories and related areas. That opinion reaffirmed Israel’s duty under international humanitarian law to ensure that the population of the occupied Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, has access to essential daily needs and to approve and facilitate all possible relief efforts for their benefit, through the United Nations and its agencies, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

“The Court affirmed Israel’s obligation to respect the prohibition on starvation as a method of warfare, noting that Israel has prevented humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip. It also reaffirmed the prohibition of mass forcible transfer and displacement, stressing that this includes imposing unbearable living conditions on the population.

“The Court reiterated the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish their independent state, recalling that the Israeli claim of sovereignty over East Jerusalem was declared “null and void” by the Security Council. This includes the so-called “Law on Terminating UNRWA Operations in the Territory of the State of Israel,” which falsely claims to apply to East Jerusalem.

“The signatories warn against the continuation of Israel’s unilateral and illegal policies and practices, and call on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities, to compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation and unlawful actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, and to ensure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent and sovereign state on the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the only path towards achieving a just and comprehensive peace that guarantees security and stability in the region.