Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A broad coalition of Arab and Muslim countries has issued a joint statement strongly condemning recent remarks by the United States Ambassador to Israel concerning Israeli sovereignty over territories widely recognized as occupied under international law. The statement, released collectively by the foreign ministries of multiple states as well as leading regional organizations, described the comments as “dangerous and provocative,” warning that they risk further destabilizing an already volatile region.
The joint declaration was issued by the foreign ministries of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Syrian Arab Republic, the State of Palestine, the State of Kuwait, the Lebanese Republic, and the Sultanate of Oman. The statement was also endorsed by the secretariats of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the League of Arab States, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
At the center of the controversy are remarks attributed to the U.S. ambassador suggesting acceptance of Israel’s exercise of control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank. The signatories rejected these statements outright, asserting that they represent a “flagrant violation” of international law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. They warned that legitimizing territorial acquisition by force would undermine the international legal order and pose a grave threat to regional security and stability.
The coalition stressed that the ambassador’s comments stand in direct contradiction to the vision previously articulated by U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as to broader diplomatic initiatives aimed at containing escalation in Gaza and reopening a political horizon for a comprehensive settlement. According to the joint statement, any approach that appears to validate permanent control over occupied lands risks derailing efforts to de-escalate tensions and revive negotiations.
The foreign ministries reaffirmed that Israel holds no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories or any other occupied Arab lands. They reiterated their categorical rejection of any attempt to annex the West Bank or to separate it politically and territorially from the Gaza Strip. The statement also denounced continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied territories, describing such actions as illegal under international law and incompatible with the prospects of a negotiated two-state solution.
Regional analysts note that the unusually broad alignment behind the statement underscores mounting frustration across Arab and Muslim capitals over what they perceive as a pattern of policies that sideline Palestinian statehood. The coordinated response also reflects ongoing efforts by regional organizations to present a unified diplomatic front amid the war in Gaza and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
The joint declaration warned that continued expansionist policies and unilateral measures would only fuel further violence and entrench conflict. The signatories called for an immediate halt to what they described as inciting rhetoric and illegal actions, arguing that durable peace can only be achieved through adherence to international law and mutual recognition.
Reaffirming their longstanding position, the participating states pledged unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. They reiterated their commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to the end of occupation of all Arab territories seized in the 1967 war.
As diplomatic tensions simmer, the statement serves as a reminder that questions of sovereignty, occupation, and international legitimacy remain at the core of one of the world’s most enduring conflicts. Whether the latest controversy will translate into renewed diplomatic engagement or deepen existing divides remains to be seen, but the unified response signals that regional actors are prepared to push back forcefully against any perceived erosion of established international norms.
