Arab states say Israel’s Somaliland recognition illegal, rejects Palestinian displacement schemes

CAIRO – 28 December 2025: The Arab League on Sunday described Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as “illegal,” declaring its full solidarity with Somalia against this infringement on the country’s sovereignty and territorial unity.

In a statement, the Arab League described the recognition as null, void and without legal effect, Al Arabiya reported.

It expressed its categorical rejection of any measures or consequences stemming from this move that could be used to facilitate plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians or to exploit northern Somali ports for the establishment of military bases.

The league said the move constituted blatant interference in Somalia’s internal affairs and a grave violation of international law and the charters of the United Nations and the Arab League.

It warned that Israel’s recognition poses a threat to regional and international peace and security, undermines Arab national security, and risks further destabilizing Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

The league reaffirmed the Arab position that Somalia’s northwestern region is an integral and indivisible part of Somalia, voicing full support for Somali security, stability, unity and sovereignty over its land, sea and airspace.

It also underscored backing the Somali government in any steps it takes to defend its sovereignty in line with international legitimacy.

Unilateral Recognition

Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognise self-declared Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, dismissing Somalia’s longstanding rejection of secession.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government but has not been internationally recognised and is considered by Mogadishu and the international community as part of Somalia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, signed a joint declaration described by Netanyahu’s office as being concluded “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.”

These are US-brokered agreements signed in 2020 to normalise diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries.

Somalia has condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and demanded that Israel reverse its move.

Palestinian displacement

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland follows reports that it had approached the breakaway region about hosting Palestinians from Gaza as part of a US-Israeli plan earlier this year to resettle the territory’s population permanently.

The plan has faced rejection across the Arab world and internationally.

The Arab League emphasized its firm rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people or alter the demographic composition of the Palestinian territories.

It rejected the use of Somali territory, or any part of it, as a platform for hostile schemes or military or intelligence activities targeting other states.

The African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and many Arab and regional countries have condemned the Israeli move and warned against its repercussions on regional and global security.

Egypt and 20 other countries issued a joint statement affirming “full rejection of any potential link between such measures and attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people from their land, which is unequivocally rejected in any form as a matter of principle.”