OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, urging an end to Israeli aggression and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. This came during the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in Jeddah on Monday.
Taha condemned the ongoing actions of the Israeli occupation forces, citing genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, systematic destruction, and the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip, which uses starvation as a weapon, SPA reported.
He also condemned the policy of expanding settlements, particularly in the E1 area of Jerusalem, and the killing of journalists, stating that these actions require legal prosecution.
The secretary-general stressed that Israel’s horrific war crimes against the Palestinian people demand a more effective international response.
The meeting addressed the unprecedented humanitarian tragedy and the Israeli government’s statements about imposing full military control over the Gaza Strip and pursuing a “greater Israel vision,” which Taha called a flagrant violation of international law.
He urged the implementation of resolutions from the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh and welcomed the recognition of the State of Palestine by several countries, calling on others to follow suit.