What happened
Pakistan on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, joined seven other members of the UN Security Council in reiterating firm opposition to the annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to the forcible displacement of the Palestinian people, Dawn reported on 25 March.
At a Security Council press stakeout, Pakistan delivered the first portion of a joint statement on behalf of Bahrain, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Pakistan, Somalia and the United Kingdom. The statement was read by Pakistan’s UN ambassador, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.
“Guided by the UN Charter and recalling the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2334, we reiterate our firm opposition to annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to any forcible displacement of the Palestinian people,” the joint statement said.
Why it matters
The group recalled that the council “has condemned all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.” It stressed that such measures “violate international law, undermine ongoing peace efforts, run counter to the comprehensive plan and jeopardise the prospect of achieving just and lasting peace.”
The statement underscored that the council “has also demanded that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,” and that it fully respect all its legal obligations. Describing settlements as illegal, the members said: “This illegal settlement policy and Israeli settlers’ continuous and escalating attacks against the Palestinian civilian population, as well as the violence against Palestinian communities, including the recent killing of Palestinian children by Israeli forces, are unacceptable and must be brought to an immediate end and we call for those responsible to be held to account.”
In the second segment, delivered by France’s ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, the members reaffirmed the council’s call for the preservation of the historic status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem. They expressed deep concern at the grave humanitarian and economic situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, attributing it notably to severe restrictions on movement and access and to Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, and called for these matters to be addressed urgently.
What is still uncertain
The joint statement reaffirmed the collective commitment reflected in the New York Declaration to take concrete measures, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions and the 19 July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, to help realise the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to counter policies and threats of forcible displacement and annexation. In the final portion, delivered by Bahrain’s ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, the members reiterated their commitment to a just and lasting peace on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference including the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative. They called for ending the Israeli occupation and implementing the two-state solution. The statement did not set out any new enforcement step or timeline.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a synthesis of published material, not eyewitness reporting. Sources were reviewed on 2026-03-25.
- Dawn — Pakistan joins UNSC in denouncing illegal Israeli settlementsPublished 25 March 2026 · Reports the joint stakeout statement, its signatories and the full text Pakistan delivered.
