Arab and Islamic states condemn U.S. envoy remarks on Israeli control over occupied lands

CAIRO - 22 FEBRUARY 2026: Egypt and a broad group of Arab and Muslim countries, along with major regional organizations, issued a joint statement condemning remarks attributed to the U.S. ambassador to Israel that suggested it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise control over Arab territories, including the occupied West Bank.

The statement, released in Arabic and English, described the comments as “dangerous and inflammatory,” and said they represent a “flagrant violation” of international law and the UN Charter, while posing a serious threat to regional security and stability.

Signatories included the foreign ministries of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Syria, Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Oman, in addition to the Gulf Cooperation Council, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

That breadth gives the statement unusual diplomatic weight, especially as it brings together Arab states and wider Islamic institutions under one message on sovereignty, occupation, and the future of the Palestinian territories.

The joint statement flatly rejected any suggestion that Israel could claim sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory or any other occupied Arab land. It also reiterated opposition to any attempt to annex the West Bank, separate it from Gaza Strip, or expand settlement activity in occupied Palestinian territory.

It further warned that continued expansionist policies and unlawful measures would only deepen violence and conflict and undermine prospects for peace, calling for an end to what it described as incendiary statements.

The statement also reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines.

In a notable formulation, the signatories said the envoy’s remarks contradict the vision put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump and the broader plan to end the Gaza conflict, which they said is based on containing escalation and creating a political horizon for a comprehensive settlement that ensures an independent Palestinian state.

That language appears aimed not only at rejecting the ambassador’s comments, but also at drawing a line between those remarks and the diplomatic framework Arab capitals say they can engage with.

The statement comes amid heightened international concern over Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank and growing warnings from diplomats and UN officials about creeping annexation dynamics. Recent international reporting has described a widening backlash over Israeli measures in the territory and fears that such steps could further erode the chances of a two-state solution.

Regional reactions reported in recent days have also linked the latest diplomatic protests to remarks attributed to U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, whose comments triggered condemnations from multiple capitals.

For Egypt, the joint statement fits into Cairo’s broader position, combining support for de-escalation in Gaza, rejection of Palestinian displacement, and insistence on a political settlement anchored in Palestinian statehood.