OIC Emergency Summit: Confronting the Annexation Crisis in the West Bank

The Open-Ended Extraordinary Ministerial Session in Jeddah comes at a critical juncture for Palestinian sovereignty. The meeting was convened following a controversial decision by the Israeli government to register vast areas of the Occupied West Bank as “state property”—the first such move since the occupation began in 1967.

Why 2026 is a Breaking Point Earlier this month, on February 15, the Israeli cabinet approved a proposal to reopen land registration in Area C, which covers approximately 60% of the West Bank. International legal experts and the UN have warned that this move effectively:

Nullifies Oslo Accords: By transferring land management from military to civilian authority.

Facilitates De Facto Annexation: Making it easier for illegal settlements to expand on land previously classified as “unregistered.”

Violates International Law: Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power is prohibited from confiscating or altering the legal status of occupied territory.

Pakistan’s Stance and Diplomatic Agenda FM Ishaq Dar is expected to present a strong “principled position” on behalf of Pakistan. According to the Foreign Office (FO), his agenda includes:

Condemning Land Theft: Sharing Pakistan’s perspective on the illegal conversion of Palestinian territory into “state land.”

Bilateral Engagement: Holding high-level meetings with counterparts from OIC member states to coordinate a unified Islamic response.

Spiritual Visits: Undertaking brief visits to the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah during his stay.

A Growing International Consensus Pakistan is not alone in its condemnation. A joint statement recently released by several Muslim and European nations—including Türkiye, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia—slammed the registration move as a “flagrant violation” of UN Security Council resolutions and the 2024 ICJ Advisory Opinion.

The Palestinian Presidency has described the move as a “serious escalation” that threatens the very possibility of a two-state solution.