Countries issue a joint statement condemning Greater Israel

Published: 09:08 AM,Aug 16,2025 | EDITED : 02:08 PM,Aug 16,2025

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A joint statement has been issued by the Foreign Ministers of 31 Arab and Islamic countries and the Secretaries-General of the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the GCC states.

It condemned in the strongest terms the statements made by Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel (the occupying power), which were reported by the Israeli media, regarding so-called 'Greater Israel.'
These statements represent a gross disregard and a blatant and dangerous violation of the rules of international law and the foundations of stable international relations, and constitute a direct threat to Arab national security, the sovereignty of states, and regional and international security and peace.

They stress that while the Arab and Islamic states affirm their respect for international legitimacy and the Charter of the United Nations, particularly Article 2, paragraph 4, regarding the rejection of the use or threat of force, the Arab and Islamic states will adopt all policies and measures that frame and consolidate peace, in a manner that achieves the interests of all states and peoples in security, stability, and development, far from the illusion of control and the imposition of the power of force.

They also condemn in the strongest terms the approval by extremist Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the settlement plan in Area 1 and his extremist, racist statements rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. They consider this a flagrant violation of international law and a blatant assault on the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent, sovereign state on the June 4, 1967, lines, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital. They emphasize that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory.

They affirm their absolute rejection and condemnation of this settlement plan and all illegal Israeli measures, which constitute a flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, in particular Resolution 2334, which condemns all Israeli settlement activities aimed at changing the demographic composition, character, and legal status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine. They also reaffirm the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which emphasized the illegality of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory and the necessity of ending it immediately, eliminating its effects, and providing compensation for its damages.

They warn of the danger of Israeli intentions and policies aimed at annexing Palestinian territories, and the continued extremist Israeli government's expansionist settlement approach in the occupied West Bank, including attempts to harm Islamic and Christian holy sites, foremost among them the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, as well as settler terrorism, daily incursions into Palestinian cities, villages, and camps, the systematic destruction of Palestinian refugee camps, and the displacement of Palestinians from their homes. This directly contributes to fueling cycles of violence and conflict and undermines the chances of achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region. They also warn against relying on ideological and racist illusions, which threaten to intensify the conflict, making it difficult to control its course or predict its outcomes, and threatening regional and international security and stability alike.

In a related context, the foreign ministers of the Arab and Islamic countries, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation reiterate their rejection and condemnation of the crimes of Israeli aggression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. They also affirm the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while ensuring unconditional access to humanitarian aid to halt the systematic starvation policy used by Israel as a weapon of genocide. This requires an immediate end to the deadly Israeli blockade of the Strip, the opening of Israeli crossings with the Gaza Strip, and holding Israel, the occupying power, fully responsible for the consequences of its crimes in the Gaza Strip, including the collapse of the health and relief system, as the occupying power. They also reaffirm their complete and absolute rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people in any form and under any pretext, and call on the international community to pressure Israel to halt the aggression and fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip, in preparation for creating the appropriate conditions for implementing the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Strip

Emphasizing that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory, and the necessity for the State of Palestine to assume governance responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as well as in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with Arab and international support, within the framework of the political program of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and the policy of one system, one law, and one legitimate weapon.

In this context, they call on the international community, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, particularly the United States of America, to assume their legal and moral responsibilities and work immediately to compel Israel to halt its ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip and its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, and to stop the delusional, inflammatory statements issued by its officials. In addition, they call on the international community, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, to assume their legal and moral responsibilities and to work immediately to compel Israel to halt its ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip and its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, and to stop the delusional, inflammatory statements issued by its officials. They also call on the international community to provide international protection for the Palestinian people, enable them to obtain their legitimate rights, foremost among which is their right to establish their independent, sovereign state on their national soil, and hold accountable the perpetrators of crimes and violations against the Palestinian people.

Foreign Ministers include those from Oman, Jordan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Sryia, Turkey, UAE, Yemen, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation.