The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), backed by a coalition of 14 Muslim and Arab countries including Pakistan, has issued a forceful condemnation of remarks attributed to Mike Huckabee, describing them as dangerous, inciting, and incompatible with international law.
The controversy follows reported comments by the US ambassador suggesting he would not object if Israel were to assume control over large parts of the Middle East. In a joint communiqué endorsed by the OIC, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, member states rejected the remarks as a direct affront to state sovereignty, binding UN resolutions, and the foundational principles of the UN Charter.
A Challenge to Global Norms
The joint statement characterized the comments as more than a diplomatic misstep, framing them instead as a call that risks legitimizing territorial acquisition by force. Such rhetoric, the OIC warned, emboldens illegal occupation practices, fuels regional instability, and erodes the credibility of the rules-based international order.
Member states reaffirmed that Israel holds no sovereign claim over occupied Palestinian territories or any other occupied Arab land. Any attempt to normalize annexation, including in the West Bank, was described as a regressive move that could trigger renewed cycles of violence.
Diplomatic observers noted that expansionist discourse at a time of heightened tensions undermines efforts aimed at de-escalation and negotiated settlement, replacing the language of political resolution with that of unilateral dominance.
Pakistan Reaffirms Principled Position
Aligning itself with what it described as a collective Muslim consensus, Pakistan reiterated its consistent support for the Palestinian cause and adherence to international legality. Islamabad emphasized that selective application of international law weakens global credibility and contributes to instability across the Middle East.
Pakistan’s position remains anchored in support for a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of an independent Palestinian state. Officials stressed that durable peace can only emerge from respect for sovereignty, self-determination, and binding UN resolutions. The joint statement further observed that rhetoric validating territorial expansion contradicts declared international efforts toward comprehensive political solutions in Gaza and beyond.
