Cairo: Egypt and a coalition of Arab and Islamic countries have issued a strong condemnation in response to the Israeli Knesset's recent approval of draft laws aiming to extend "sovereignty" over the entire occupied West Bank and its illegal settlements.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the condemnation was articulated through a joint statement by Egypt's Foreign Ministry, joined by nations including Kuwait, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Gambia, Palestine, Qatar, Libya, Malaysia, and Nigeria, as well as the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The statement emphasized that the Knesset's move represents a clear violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which criticizes Israeli actions intended to change the character and legal status of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.
The statement invoked the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has confirmed the illegality of Israel's occupation and settlement activities in the occupied West Bank. The nations involved reaffirmed Israel's lack of sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories and expressed approval for the ICJ's advisory opinion issued on October 22, 2025, which urges Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and facilitate humanitarian aid, particularly through UN agencies such as UNRWA.
The ICJ's advisory further highlighted the prohibition of starvation as a method of warfare and criticized Israel's hindrance of aid to Gaza, cautioning against the forced displacement and harsh living conditions imposed on Palestinians. The joint declaration also emphasized the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the formation of an independent state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It called on the international community to fulfill its legal and moral obligations and pressure Israel to cease its unlawful activities.
In conclusion, the statement asserted that a just and comprehensive peace can only be realized by acknowledging the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.