ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of eight Arab-Islamic countries have strongly condemned the continued and escalating violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks on two mosques north of Ramallah.
In a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, the ministers denounced attacks on the Grand Mosque in the village of Jiljilya and Al-Farouq Mosque in the village of Mazar’a al-Nubani.
The ministers said the attacks represented a blatant violation of the sanctity of religious sites and places of worship, as well as a breach of international law, including international humanitarian law, and relevant United Nations resolutions.
Expressing their “absolute rejection” of the attacks, the ministers also criticized the Israel’s continued illegal measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
They warned that such actions contribute to instability, fuel violence and extremism, and undermine international efforts aimed at achieving peace in the region.
The joint statement held Israel, as the occupying power, responsible for the attacks and called on the international community to fulfill its legal and moral obligations by taking effective measures to halt what it described as Israel’s dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank.
The ministers urged the international community to pressure Israel to end its illegal practices, stop settler violence, and ensure accountability for those responsible for crimes against Palestinians. They stressed the importance of preventing perpetrators from acting with impunity.
Reaffirming their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people, the foreign ministers reiterated support for the Palestinians’ legitimate and inalienable rights, particularly their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace through a two-state solution in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.