Ankara: Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset's preliminary passage of two bills to annex the occupied West Bank and the Ma'ale Adumim settlement bloc in East Jerusalem, calling it a violation of international law.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that these actions constitute a flagrant breach of international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The ministry emphasized that "such provocative and unlawful measures undermine ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region."

Islamabad urged the international community to take urgent and decisive action to halt these illegal steps and hold the Israeli occupying forces accountable for their continued violations of international law. The Knesset vote on Wednesday took place despite opposition from US President Donald Trump, who had previously expressed disapproval of Israel's annexation plans. The vote coincided with the visit of US Vice President JD Vance to Israel.

The proposed annexation would effectively eliminate the possibility of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as outlined in UN resolutions. Israeli military actions have intensified across the West Bank since October 2023, resulting in over 1,056 Palestinian deaths, 10,300 injuries, and the detention of more than 20,000 individuals, according to Palestinian sources.

In a significant opinion last July, the International Court of Justice deemed Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.