Jeddah, March 06, 2024, Jeddah played host to the commencement of an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM) on Tuesday, with a primary focus on addressing the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. The session, held at the OIC General Secretariat headquarters, was chaired by Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, the Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the current OIC council chair.
Merzoug highlighted the humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, amidst the escalating Israeli aggression. The meeting aimed to assess the progress of various initiatives, including resolutions adopted during the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit hosted by Riyadh in November. Merzoug expressed the hope for prompt decisions leading to an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, along with timely humanitarian aid delivery.
Emphasizing the urgent need for citizens to return home and reconstruction efforts, Merzoug stressed that lasting peace in the region hinges on recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, aligning with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.
During the meeting, OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha urged countries to increase funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Taha underscored concerns about Israeli campaigns against UNRWA and the suspension of contributions by some donor countries, emphasizing the vital role of UNRWA in providing humanitarian services to Palestinian refugees.
Taha highlighted the OIC's deep concerns about ongoing Israeli aggression, citing violations of sanctities, laws, and international norms, resulting in horrifying casualties, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. He commended the efforts of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit, including diplomatic engagements and media monitoring.
Moreover, Taha detailed the collaboration between the OIC General Secretariat and 25 member states in providing information to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and participating in public hearings addressing Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory since 1967. The ICJ hearings focused on Israel's continuous violation of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riad Malki described the Palestinian people's suffering in the Gaza Strip as the worst forms of genocide. He highlighted a heinous massacre at Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City and Israeli plans to impose further restrictions on basic rights and access to holy sites. Malki emphasized that the ongoing genocide in Palestine poses a global threat, expressing gratitude to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan for calling the extraordinary meeting and their awareness of the real dangers faced by the Palestinian cause.
