ANKARA / ISTANBUL — An Arab-Islamic ministerial delegation has condemned Israel’s refusal to permit their visit to Ramallah, labeling it a “flagrant violation” of its duties as an occupying power under international law.
According to Anadolu Ajansi (AA), the delegation, comprising the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, issued a strong statement denouncing Israel’s actions as a reflection of its “arrogance, blatant disregard for international law, and continued implementation of oppressive policies against the Palestinian people.”
The visit, initially postponed, was meant to convey firm political backing to the Palestinian leadership amid the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza and intensifying military operations across the occupied West Bank.
The delegation was formed as part of a ministerial committee established at the Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh. The group is also working towards an international peace conference scheduled for mid-June in New York, co-led by Saudi Arabia and France, which aims to revive dialogue on the two-state solution.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israel’s move, calling it a “clear breach of signed agreements” and an ongoing violation of Palestinian rights. It stressed that the Israeli government’s ban underscores its disregard for legal obligations and peace efforts.
Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), described Israel’s refusal as “expected from a fascist regime.” He accused Israel of using such bans as part of a broader strategy to undermine the Palestinian Authority, reinforced by financial restrictions, fragmentation of the West Bank, and expansion of illegal settlements as part of a creeping annexation agenda.
Since the beginning of Israel’s offensive on Gaza on October 7, 2023, at least 972 Palestinians have been killed and over 7,000 injured in the occupied West Bank due to Israeli military raids and settler violence, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in July 2023 that Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and demanded the dismantling of all Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
