In a brazen display of control over occupied Palestinian territory, Israel has barred a delegation of foreign ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside Turkiye, from visiting Ramallah to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Jordanian foreign ministry condemned “Israel’s decision to ban the delegation’s visit to Ramallah [on Sunday] to meet with the president of the State of Palestine, Mahmud Abbas,” labeling the move a direct assault on Palestinian aspirations for statehood.
The delegation, formed at the Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, aimed to deliver a powerful message of support for the Palestinian leadership amid Israel’s escalating aggression.
Ahmad Majdalani, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, told Anadolu the visit was intended to voice “Arab and Muslim countries’ opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank.”
The ministers also sought to prepare for a critical international peace conference in New York from June 17-20, co-led by France and Saudi Arabia, to revive the two-state solution — a prospect Israel continues to undermine.
Israel’s decision to block the visit hinges on its iron grip over the West Bank’s borders and airspace, forcing the delegation to seek approval to travel from Jordan.
An Israeli official, quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth, arrogantly declared, “The planned meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Ramallah to promote the creation of a Palestinian state is unacceptable,” adding, “Israel will not participate in any steps aimed at harming its security.”
Israel further smeared the Palestinian Authority for not condemning the October 7, 2023, attacks, using this as a pretext to stifle diplomatic efforts.
Israel’s obstruction comes as its forces and illegal settlers intensify attacks in the West Bank, with the Palestinian Health Ministry reporting 972 Palestinians killed and over 7,000 injured since October 7, 2023.
The International Court of Justice’s July ruling, declaring Israel’s occupation illegal and demanding settlement evacuation, underscores the ongoing injustice Palestinians face under Israel’s unrelenting control.