Oman Hosts Joint Statement by Arab, Islamic States Rejecting Israeli Expansionist Policies
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister of Oman, along with the foreign ministers of 30 Arab and Islamic countries and the secretaries-general of the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), issued a joint statement condemning in the strongest terms recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the creation of a so-called “Greater Israel.”
The statement described Netanyahu’s remarks as a blatant violation of international law, a direct threat to Arab national security, and an assault on regional and global peace and stability. It emphasized that Arab and Islamic nations remain committed to international legitimacy and the United Nations Charter, while warning that they will take all necessary measures to safeguard peace, stability, and the legitimate rights of nations in the region.
The ministers further denounced Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s approval of a settlement plan in the E1 area and his rejection of a Palestinian state. They stressed that such actions flagrantly violate international law and the rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent and sovereign state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Reaffirming that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territories, the joint statement rejected all illegal settlement activities, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemns attempts to alter the demographic, legal, and geographic status of occupied Palestinian land. The ministers also highlighted the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which declared the Israeli occupation unlawful and called for its immediate end.
Warning against Israel’s expansionist policies, the ministers underscored the grave risks posed by settlement expansion, the targeting of Islamic and Christian holy sites—including Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif—systematic demolitions, forced displacement of Palestinians, and ongoing military incursions into Palestinian areas. They cautioned that such policies fuel cycles of violence, destabilize the region, and undermine prospects for a just and lasting peace.
In a related context, the Arab and Islamic foreign ministers, along with the Arab League and OIC, condemned Israeli aggression, including war crimes, genocide, and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. They called for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access to counter what they described as Israel’s systematic starvation policy.
The statement demanded an end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza, the reopening of crossings, and holding Israel—“the occupying power”—fully accountable for the collapse of health and relief systems. The ministers categorically rejected any attempt to displace Palestinians, urging the international community to pressure Israel to withdraw from Gaza and support early recovery and reconstruction plans.
They reaffirmed that Gaza is an inseparable part of the occupied Palestinian territory and stressed the need for the State of Palestine, under the Palestine Liberation Organization, to assume full governance responsibilities in Gaza and the West Bank, with Arab and international support.
Finally, the ministers called on the international community, particularly the permanent members of the UN Security Council and specifically the United States, to act decisively to halt Israel’s aggression, provide international protection for the Palestinian people, and uphold their right to establish an independent and sovereign state on their national soil.
