The Foreign Ministers of 15 Muslim-majority countries have issued a sharp joint statement condemning Somaliland’s decision to open a purported “embassy” in occupied Jerusalem, describing the move as illegal, unacceptable, and a serious violation of international law.

In a strongly worded declaration, the ministers from Türkiye, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen rejected the step in the “strongest terms,” warning that it represents a dangerous attempt to legitimize Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.

The ministers stated that the action constitutes “a flagrant violation of international law and relevant international resolutions” and a direct assault on the legal and historical status of occupied Jerusalem. They stressed that East Jerusalem remains occupied Palestinian territory since 1967, and any unilateral measures aimed at changing its status are “null and void and without legal effect.”

The joint statement also reaffirmed the ministers’ unwavering support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. They expressed unequivocal rejection of any unilateral measures that undermine Somalia’s sovereignty or attempt to fragment its territory.

The coordinated diplomatic response underscores a broad consensus among major Muslim nations against any recognition of changes to Jerusalem’s status under Israeli occupation. The opening of the so-called “embassy” by the Somaliland region has been widely viewed as a provocative and isolated move that contradicts longstanding international positions on the Palestinian issue.

This strong collective stance comes amid heightened sensitivities over Jerusalem, where attempts by any party to establish official presence in the occupied city are seen by Palestinians and most of the international community as undermining prospects for a just and lasting peace.

The Foreign Ministers called on all countries to refrain from any actions that could entrench the illegal occupation or grant legitimacy to arrangements that violate United Nations resolutions and international consensus regarding Palestine. (ILKHA)