The preparatory ministerial meeting for an emergency Arab-Islamic summit will begin Sunday in Riyadh.
Convened by Saudi Arabia, the summit aims to address the ongoing Israeli assault on Palestinian and Lebanese territories, as well as regional developments and coordination among member states.
Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), told Asharq Al-Awsat that the summit underscores Saudi Arabia’s and other member states' strong commitment to supporting the Palestinian people.
The OIC chief said the joint Arab-Islamic ministerial committee, formed at the last summit, has made progress internationally by pushing for wider recognition of Palestine and securing UN resolutions to condemn and stop Israeli aggression.
Taha warned of the risk of a broader regional conflict, citing Israel's escalating actions and increased military strikes on Lebanon and other areas.
He highlighted the strategic importance of the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s and member states’ unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.
Taha added that the summit highlights the need for joint Islamic action to strengthen unity and solidarity, enabling member states to speak with one voice globally.
This unified stance, he said, seeks to push the international community to stop Israeli aggression, deliver aid to Gaza, hold Israel accountable, and support a two-state solution.
Taha said the joint Arab-Islamic ministerial committee, established at the previous Riyadh summit, has successfully expanded international recognition of Palestine, with ongoing efforts to rally support to end Israeli aggression.
“The organization is actively pursuing political, legal, humanitarian, and media initiatives to carry out the summit's resolution on Israeli aggression against Palestinians, including coordinating member states' positions and actions,” he explained.
Taha added that the committee’s diplomatic efforts have pushed for greater recognition of Palestine and pressured the UN to adopt resolutions condemning Israeli actions and calling for an end to hostilities.
The Secretary-General stressed that diplomatic efforts remain focused on ending Israeli aggression, supporting Palestine’s full UN membership, and advancing a two-state solution.
On the humanitarian side, member states have provided aid to Gaza, supported UNRWA, and assisted the Palestinian government to help alleviate Palestinian suffering.
The Secretary-General of the OIC said the organization is actively pursuing legal action at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to defend Palestinian rights, hold Israel accountable for its crimes, and push for an end to Israeli aggression and its illegal occupation of Palestinian land.
He added that the legal observatory, set up after the previous summit, is documenting Israeli crimes to support future cases against Israel in international courts.
Taha also noted that the organization is working on media efforts to expose Israeli violations through its media observatory, which tracks Israeli crimes against Palestinians and was established as part of the previous Riyadh summit’s decisions.
