ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned Israel’s move to annex the occupied West Bank, calling it a “flagrant violation” of international law, barely a week after US President Donald Trump pushed through a deal aimed at ending a two-year Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli lawmakers voted on Wednesday to advance two bills to extend Israeli sovereignty over parts of the occupied territory, prompting a wave of international criticism, including from Washington, a longtime ally of Israel.
Pakistan’s foreign office urged the global community to play its role in halting the “illegal actions” by the Israeli administration.
“Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s attempt to extend its so-called ‘sovereignty’ over parts of the Occupied West Bank, including illegal Israeli settlements, through a draft law introduced in the legislature of the occupying power,” the foreign office said in a statement. “These actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.”
The statement said such provocative measures could undermine ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.
