In a powerful collective stance against territorial inequities, foreign ministers from 19 nations, including prominent figures from Turkiye, Qatar, and Brazil, have come together to denounce Israel’s proposed land registration plans in the occupied West Bank. While these actions threaten the sovereignty of Palestinian territories, the statement emphasizes the unity of nations in support of a fair and just solution grounded in international law, reinforcing the global commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.
Foreign ministers from 19 countries, including Turkiye, Qatar, France, and Brazil, have issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s plans to unlawfully extend and consolidate control over Palestinian land. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that Israel’s proposed land registration initiative in the occupied West Bank is perceived as a “de facto annexation.”
The statement articulates deep concern regarding the implications of these plans, which could facilitate the seizure of land from Palestinians who are unable to prove ownership. It underscores how these changes effectively reclassify Palestinian land as so-called Israeli “state land,” subsequently accelerating illegal settlement activities and entrenching Israeli administrative control. Supporting countries include Saudi Arabia and Egypt, alongside leadership from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, emphasizing the broad consensus against such unilateral actions.
Israel’s strategy, formalized on February 15, aims to implement registration across Area C, which constitutes approximately 60 percent of the West Bank. The joint statement cautioned that these moves could irreversibly alter the “legal and administrative status” of a territory that remains under Israeli military oversight, with limited Palestinian self-governance, but is envisioned as part of a future Palestinian state.
“Our position reflects a profound commitment to the viability of the Palestinian State and the pursuit of a two-state solution,” the statement remarked, rejecting measures that alter the demographic and geographical characteristics of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.
The foreign ministers also called on Israel to address the rising violence against Palestinians by settlers and pledged to undertake “concrete steps, in accordance with international law,” to counteract the expansion of illegal settlements and prevent policies that encourage forcible displacement and annexation.
They reiterated that Israeli settlements are a blatant violation of international law, referencing previous United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which deemed Israel’s “abuse of its status as the occupying power” as rendering its presence in occupied Palestinian territories unlawful.
According to the ICJ, approximately 465,000 Israeli settlers inhabit the occupied West Bank in roughly 300 settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law. Earlier in the month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Israel’s land registration plan risks dispossessing Palestinians of their property and exacerbating Israeli control over the territory.
The signatories of the statement called for Israel to promptly release tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, demand adherence to the 1994 Paris Protocol, and reiterated the importance of preserving the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, particularly during the sacred month of Ramadan.
This multilateral initiative reflects a significant global solidarity movement advocating for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people, emphasizing an urgent need for renewed dialogue and adherence to international frameworks to resolve ongoing conflicts peacefully.
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