Arab And Islamic Countries Condemn US Ambassador's Remarks On Israel And Occupied Territories

Arab and Islamic states issue a joint denunciation of comments by the United States Ambassador to Israel, after the ambassador suggested Israel could retain control over Arab territories, including the occupied West Bank. The ministries describe the remarks as dangerous, warning they risk deepening regional instability and undermining current efforts to calm the conflict.

The joint statement argues that approving control over occupied Arab land disregards international law and the United Nations Charter. The governments caution that such views encourage further escalation, strengthen hardline positions and increase violence. They urge an immediate halt to inflammatory language, which they say damages prospects for any durable political settlement.

The ministries emphasise that the ambassador’s comments also clash with the vision presented by U.S. President Donald J. Trump. They state that the remarks contradict the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which aims to limit escalation and open a political path towards an overall agreement that includes an independent Palestinian state.

According to the statement, the plan rests on ideas of tolerance and peaceful coexistence between communities. The governments argue that attempts to justify control over another people’s land weaken these principles and instead fuel anger. They describe such rhetoric as a form of incitement that moves the region further away from peace negotiations.

The ministries reaffirm that Israel holds no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab areas. They repeat their total opposition to any plan to annex the West Bank or detach it from the Gaza Strip, and condemn continued settlement expansion on occupied land as a threat to regional security.

The joint declaration also rejects any challenge to the sovereignty of Arab states, linking this to Israel’s wider expansionist policies and unilateral steps. The governments warn that continuing these measures will intensify conflict across the region and erode remaining hopes for peace, while calling for responsible statements that support de-escalation instead of confrontation.

The statement is issued by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of several Arab and Islamic countries, together with regional organisations. Their coordinated response highlights shared concerns regarding both the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the broader question of Arab lands under occupation.

The signatories confirm their firm support for the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. They restate backing for an independent Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 borders and demand an end to the occupation of all Arab territories, presenting this as essential for any comprehensive and lasting regional settlement.

With inputs from SPA