On Monday, February 16, 2026, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s latest legislative and administrative maneuvers to register vast areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property.”
This formal protest follows the Israeli cabinet’s approval on Sunday, February 15, to resume land registration in the West Bank for the first time since 1967—a move that critics and international bodies have labeled “de facto annexation.”
The Foreign Office Statement
The statement issued from Islamabad characterized the move as a flagrant violation of international law and a deliberate attempt to sabotage the “Two-State Solution.”
“Pakistan strongly condemns the latest attempt by the Israeli occupying power to convert areas of the Occupied West Bank into so-called state property, and to expand illegal settlement activities. These steps must be rejected by the international community.” — MOFA Pakistan
🔊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
Key points from the FO statement:
- Legal Violations: The move violates UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
- Peace Sabotage: Pakistan argues these “provocative actions” undermine prospects for a lasting peace.
- Call for Action: Islamabad urged the international community to take “concrete measures” to end Israeli impunity.
- Two-State Solution: Reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (East Jerusalem) as its capital.
Why the Land Registration Matters
The Israeli cabinet has authorized an initial budget of NIS 244 million ($79 million) for the land registration process in Area C (which covers about 60% of the West Bank) through 2030.
| The Change | The Implication |
| End of 1967 Freeze | Since 1967, land registration was frozen; ownership was often based on traditional use or Ottoman-era documents. |
| Burden of Proof | Palestinians must now prove ownership through a complex legal process; if they fail, the land is declared “state property.” |
| Settlement Growth | Registered state land is immediately available for the expansion of Israeli settlements and infrastructure. |
| Annexation Risk | Analysts see this as a “revolution” in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), moving from military administration to civil state control. |
Global and Regional Reaction
Pakistan’s condemnation aligns with a wave of international pushback:
- United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres “deplored” the decision on Monday, warning it risks the “dispossession of Palestinians.”
- Regional Neighbors: Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar issued separate statements calling the move a “dangerous escalation” and an “illegitimate” attempt to change the demography of the territory.
- European Union: Called for the decision to be reversed, labeling annexation “illegal under international law.”
- United States: While the Trump administration has been quieter on the specifics, Vice President JD Vance recently dismissed similar legislative moves in the Knesset as “symbolic stunts” that do not change U.S. policy against annexation.
Wider Regional Update (Feb 17, 2026)
The FO’s condemnation comes just a week after Pakistan joined a joint statement (Feb 9) with Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemning earlier Israeli measures in the West Bank and Gaza.
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