The foreign ministers from 19 countries released a joint statement on October 16, 2026, strongly condemning Colombia’s decision to open its embassy in Jerusalem. In the communique issued by Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry, the ministers expressed their unequivocal rejection of the inauguration, which they said contravenes relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The statement further noted that the move undermines international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. The participating nations were Türkiye, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
According to the joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed that any measure or decision intended to alter the legal or historical status of occupied Jerusalem or to recognize it as Israel’s capital is null and void and has no legal effect. This position aligns with UN Security Council Resolutions 476 and 478, both from 1980, which reject attempts to change the city’s character or status. The resolutions also call on states to withdraw diplomatic missions from Jerusalem, which the statement described as part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967. The ministers emphasized that such actions cannot override international law.
The foreign ministers called on the Colombian government to reconsider and reverse its decision while upholding obligations under international law. They urged Colombia to refrain from measures that prejudice the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to an independent and sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The statement highlighted the importance of respecting established parameters for peace negotiations in the region.
Colombia relocated its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem after 46 years, with the inauguration ceremony held on October 14, 2026, and attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar. Reports from Anadolu Agency and Daily Sabah detailed the event as a significant shift in Colombia’s diplomatic posture toward Israel, making it the 10th country to locate its embassy in the city. This development drew immediate criticism from across the Middle East and beyond due to its potential impact on longstanding diplomatic norms.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued an earlier condemnation of the embassy opening on October 14, describing it as a violation of international law, according to Kuwait Times. The Arab League similarly rejected the move in a separate statement that referenced UN Security Council Resolution 478 and called for reversal to preserve prospects for a two-state solution. These responses reflect a consistent regional stance against unilateral changes to Jerusalem’s status.
The joint statement builds on a broad international consensus that views East Jerusalem as occupied territory, a position rooted in decades of UN General Assembly and Security Council decisions. Foreign ministries involved in the communique have reiterated their support for Palestinian statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital in line with relevant resolutions. Officials stressed that adherence to international law remains essential for any viable peace process in the region.
