Pakistan Voices Concern Over Israeli Settlement Expansion in Palestinian Territories

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed serious concern on Friday regarding the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to a sovereign Palestinian state.

Dar made these remarks during a joint press conference with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, who was on an official visit to Islamabad.

Pakistan has repeatedly voiced opposition to Israel’s policies of denying construction permits to Palestinians while simultaneously expanding Jewish settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Israel has maintained control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem since occupying these territories in June 1967, administering security and civilian affairs affecting Palestinian residents.

“On the issue of Palestine, I expressed my concern over the continued expansion of illegal settlements and attempts to change the status of the West Bank and Al-Quds Al-Sharif,” Dar said, using the Arabic term for Jerusalem.

Dar emphasized the critical need for unfettered humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, where Israeli military operations following October 7, 2023, have resulted in significant Palestinian casualties.

“I reiterated our strong support for an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous state of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” he stated, adding, “This remains the official policy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”

Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank has accelerated in recent years. According to data analyzed by AFP from Israeli rights organization Peace Now, the International Crisis Group (ICG), and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly half of all Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory – all deemed illegal under international law – were established since 2023.

In total, over 550 settlements have been constructed across the region in the last 60 years, including unauthorized outposts established without formal government authorization, as reported by Peace Now.

The demographics show over 500,000 Israeli settlers currently reside in the West Bank, increasing to approximately 700,000 when including East Jerusalem, alongside more than three million Palestinians. The ICG reports that the Israeli population in these territories has grown by nearly 50% since 2012, compared to a 30% increase in the Palestinian population.

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