Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday condemned Israel’s recent actions in the occupied West Bank to convert areas of the territory into “state property,” highlighting that the country’s “expansionist mentality” does not respect international law.
The minister made the statement while addressing a meeting of the executive committee of the Organization of the Islamic Council (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The meeting took place in the context of the Israeli government. approve a proposal register large areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property” for the first time since the territory was occupied in 1967.
Addressing the meeting, the Foreign Minister took note of the “latest illegal measures taken by Israel to convert areas of the occupied West Bank into so-called state properties,” stressing that Israel’s actions reflected “an annexationist and expansionist mentality, devoid of any respect for international law or humanitarian norms.”
At the beginning of his speech, Dar highlighted Israel’s continued ceasefire violations, its expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and attempts at annexation, which he said posed a threat to any “prospect for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
He recalled that in September 2025, at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), “the leaders and foreign ministers of a group of eight Islamic countries, including Pakistan, committed to the president of the United States to end the bloodshed in Gaza and [..] ensure a permanent and sustainable ceasefire and advance a comprehensive peace process with Palestinian brothers and sisters.”
He also recalled that during the consultation held, the group of eight countries received “guarantees that the annexation of the West Bank will not occur.”
However, the minister said in the debate that “on the ground, Israel continues with brazen impunity to expand illegal settlements.”
He argued that Israel’s actions amounted to a violation of “international law, the Charter of the United Nations and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.”
“These violations encourage further aggression, erode regional stability and trample on the rights and dignity of Palestinians,” he added.
Dar called on the international community to “act decisively” to stop the violations committed by Israel and “uphold international law, as well as ensure compliance with the guarantees given” in September 2025.
He recalled that a joint statement was issued together with eight other Islamic countries, which according to Dar, “clearly highlighted our shared concern over Israel’s continued violation of the ceasefire and attempts to impose illegal sovereignty, expand settlements and impose a new legal and administrative reality on the occupied West Bank.”
The Foreign Minister reiterated that “Pakistan remains fully committed as part of the group of eight other Islamic countries to ensure a permanent and sustainable ceasefire, the immediate start of reconstruction and a credible, time-bound political path towards an independent Palestinian state.”
Dar vowed that Pakistan will continue to “remain at the forefront in advancing the Palestinian cause.”
He stressed that the OIC member needed to “collectively ensure the immediate revocation of all Israeli measures aimed at the de facto annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory, including the occupied West Bank.”
He also called for the “protection of holy sites, including the Al Aqsa Mosque,” as well as an “immediate end to the displacement (of Palestinians) and demographic manipulation.”
Dar highlighted the need for “full implementation” of UN Security Council resolution 2803.
The foreign minister called for the immediate “reconstruction and recovery of Gaza with full Palestinian ownership” and “accountability for war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.”
Recalling the recent statement made by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, suggesting that he would not oppose Tel Aviv taking over large areas of the Middle East, the foreign minister maintained that such statements were “irresponsible, deeply troubling and condemnable”.
“At a time when initiatives such as the Peace Board and the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict [..] “They try to draw a credible political horizon, comments of this nature directly contradict those objectives and weaken collective diplomatic efforts.”
Dar maintained that Pakistan supported “its sister Arab nations in defending their territorial integrity and will continue to oppose any attempt to legitimize the occupation.”
Furthermore, drawing parallels between Palestine and Indian-occupied Kashmir, Dar called on the OIC to “intensify its efforts for a fair resolution” of the dispute.
In his concluding remarks, the foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the Palestinian cause, stressing that the people needed “concrete measures to end their suffering and secure liberation from Israeli occupation.”
“Pakistan, along with its sister OIC countries, is ready to face this challenge with unity, determination and purpose,” he added.
On February 25, the OIC – together with Pakistan, the Arab League and 20 other Muslim and European countries – jointly convicted Israeli attempts aimed at the “unacceptable de facto annexation” of Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank.
Dar arrived in Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit a day earlier.
He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from OIC member states on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, adding that he will also “make short visits to the Holy Cities.”
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1976122/israels-expansionist-mindset-bereft-of-any-regard-for-international-law-dar-tells-oic-moot