Pakistan has issued a sharp diplomatic rebuke following the Israeli government’s decision to register vast tracts of the occupied West Bank as “state property.” In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Monday, Islamabad characterized the move as a provocative attempt to consolidate illegal control and dismantle the prospects of a sovereign Palestinian state.
🔊PR No.4️⃣3️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Pakistan Rejects Israel’s Illegal Measures in the Occupied West Bank
🔗⬇️https://t.co/I698jm0MIH pic.twitter.com/tweFgLMWMb
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) February 16, 2026
The “State Property” Move: A De Facto Annexation
On February 15, the Israeli cabinet approved a proposal to reopen land registration in the West Bank for the first time since the 1967 war. The policy, spearheaded by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and supported by Defense Minister Israel Katz, allows the state to claim ownership of land where Palestinians cannot provide formal, documented proof of ownership—a standard that is nearly impossible for many to meet due to the suspension of registration processes decades ago.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Stand
The Foreign Office (FO) statement underscored several critical points regarding the legality and regional impact of this move:
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Violation of International Law: Pakistan emphasized that the registration of land in occupied territory is a direct breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which declares all Israeli settlement activity in occupied Palestinian territory to have “no legal validity.”
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Systemic Dispossession: The FO noted that by exploiting the lack of formal registration—a process Israel itself halted in 1967—the “occupying power” is systemically depriving Palestinians of their ancestral lands.
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Undermining Peace: Islamabad warned that these “provocative actions” erode the foundations of a two-state solution and invite further instability in an already volatile region.
“Pakistan calls on the international community to take concrete measures to end Israeli impunity and ensure respect for international law,” the statement read, reaffirming support for a contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Regional and International Outcry
The move has triggered a wave of condemnation across the globe:
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The Palestinian Presidency: Labeled the decision a “dangerous escalation” and the “de facto beginning of annexation.”
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Hamas: Described the move as an attempt to “Judaize” Palestinian lands by force.
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The United Nations: UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the current trajectory is “eroding the prospect for a two-state solution” and urged an immediate reversal.
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Israel’s Defense Minister: Israel Katz defended the move as an “essential security and governance measure” to ensure “full freedom of action” for the Israeli state.
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