Arab-African Summit in Saudi Arabia Postponed Due to Developments in Gaza

Destroyed structures in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 07 November 2023. (EPA)
Destroyed structures in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 07 November 2023. (EPA)
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Arab-African Summit in Saudi Arabia Postponed Due to Developments in Gaza

Destroyed structures in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 07 November 2023. (EPA)
Destroyed structures in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 07 November 2023. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday the postponement of the fifth Arab-African summit due to the developments in Gaza. The summit was scheduled to be held in Riyadh on Saturday

Emergency Arab and Islamic summits are being held in Riyadh on Saturday and Sunday respectively to tackle the conflict.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it had coordinated with the Arab League and African Union to postpone the summit.

It hoped that the political developments in the region would not impact the Arab-African partnership.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit described the situation Gaza as “catastrophic”, condemning the violation of all Palestinian rights by Israeli forces.

Aboul Gheit met with UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk in Cairo on Tuesday. He said trust has been lost in international humanitarian law “given the daily massacres committed by the occupation forces”.

“The western world needs to realize the severity of the situation,” he added, warning of its consequences on the future of the Middle East and beyond.



OIC Calls for International Investigation into Israeli Crimes against Palestinian Prisoners

OIC Calls for International Investigation into Israeli Crimes against Palestinian Prisoners
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OIC Calls for International Investigation into Israeli Crimes against Palestinian Prisoners

OIC Calls for International Investigation into Israeli Crimes against Palestinian Prisoners

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed deep concern regarding the increased violent acts and severe violations committed by the Israeli occupation against numerous Palestinian prisoners. These violations have been well-documented by various legal entities and include acts such as execution, torture, starvation, rape, isolation, and forced disappearance, SPA reported.
The detainees from the Gaza Strip have been particularly affected, resulting in the deaths of eighteen Gazan prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons since October 07, 2023. Additionally, there are many other detainees killed, but their identities have not yet been disclosed.
The OIC has strongly denounced the ongoing indiscriminate detention drives carried out by the Israeli occupying authorities. These actions have resulted in a significant increase in the number of Palestinian detainees, with the current count exceeding 9,700 individuals. Among them are 80 female detainees, 52 journalists, and over 250 children, in addition to more than 3,380 individuals held in administrative detention without formal charges or trial. Furthermore, close to 600 detainees are serving life sentences.
The OIC has requested an immediate international inquiry into the cruel conditions and continuous Israeli infringements against Palestinian detainees in Israeli occupation prisons. These actions are considered war crimes and crimes against humanity, and they blatantly breach the standards and regulations set forth by international humanitarian law, the Human Rights Charter, the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, and other pertinent international agreements.
The OIC urged the international community and human rights organizations to take action to compel the Israeli authorities to treat Palestinian prisoners in line with international conventions. The OIC reiterated its support for the rights of Palestinian prisoners and their resilience, pledging to convey their plight to the global community in pursuit of freedom and justice.