Jeddah: The preparatory meeting for the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened on Sunday at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah to address the ongoing Israeli occupation aggression against the Palestinians.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nuh Yilmaz, stressed that the session would focus on the humanitarian tragedy, state terrorism, settler violence in the West Bank, and the situation in Jerusalem. He underscored the urgency of international action, warning that Israeli occupation forces are committing genocide and highlighted the images of civilians, children, and infants dying from gunfire or starvation in Gaza.
Yilmaz emphasized that the way forward must include an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid through the United Nations and trusted NGOs, expansion of the coalition for Palestine, and coordinated steps to impose measures against the occupation.
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Taha, in a speech delivered by Samir Bakr, the Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs, said the meeting was convened in light of the Israeli forces' intention to impose military control over Gaza, along with statements by the Israeli prime minister regarding the "Greater Israel vision." Taha described these positions as policies of incitement, extremism, and aggression, and a violation of state sovereignty, international law, and the UN Charter. He stressed that such actions undermine efforts for a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.
He added that the continuation of atrocities against the Palestinians requires effective international mobilization to halt the aggression, in line with resolutions adopted at the joint Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh in November 2024.
The OIC Secretary-General further highlighted the need for regional and international efforts toward a ceasefire, cessation of Israeli aggression, return of displaced persons, and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The preparatory meeting is reviewing a draft resolution on the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, which will be submitted to the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers scheduled for Monday for adoption.