Several countries at the UN Security Council on Monday raised concerns that Israel’s recognition of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland could be linked to plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians. Pakistan described the move as deeply troubling and warned of its wider regional implications.
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Addressing the UNSC, Pakistan’s Deputy UN Ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon said Israel’s “unlawful recognition” of Somaliland came against the backdrop of earlier references to the region as a possible destination for Palestinians from Gaza. He said such actions risk exporting instability beyond the Middle East.
Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday. The move prompted an emergency discussion at the Council amid fears it could facilitate relocation plans or military expansion.
The Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of #Somalia to the United Nations, Amb. Abukar Dahir Osman, reaffirmed during today’s #UNSC session his rejection of and strong condemnation for #Israel’s illegal recognition of the #Somaliland region.#Somali pic.twitter.com/xoDpTiKz9L
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸🇴 (@MOFASomalia) December 30, 2025
Jadoon said Pakistan unequivocally rejected any proposal aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians. He stressed that any action implying resettlement violated international law and undermined prospects for a just and lasting peace.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s position, he said lasting stability depended on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital. He also reiterated Pakistan’s firm support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
Pakistan has strongly condemned the unilateral and unlawful recognition by Israel of the “Somaliland” region of the Federal Republic of Somalia. It is a direct assault on Somalia’s internationally recognized borders and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. The… pic.twitter.com/84tQaSLILg
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) December 29, 2025
The envoy condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as a direct assault on Somalia’s internationally recognised borders. He noted that Pakistan and several Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries had rejected the move.
Somalia’s UN ambassador said several Council members also opposed any attempt to relocate Palestinians to the region. The Arab League echoed these concerns, rejecting measures that could facilitate displacement or the establishment of military bases.
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The United States defended Israel’s decision, arguing that it had the right to conduct diplomatic relations like any sovereign state. However, Slovenia and the United Kingdom rejected the comparison, reiterating support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.