The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has firmly rejected Israeli plans to impose full occupation and military control over the Gaza Strip, calling for the international community to exert pressure on Israel to halt its actions against Palestinians.
In its final communiqué following an emergency ministerial meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the 57-member bloc condemned any attempts “to forcibly displace the Palestinian people” and held Israel “completely responsible for the ongoing war and for deliberately ignoring appeasement initiatives.”
The OIC said Israel’s refusal to accept the latest ceasefire proposal, which Hamas had already approved, derailed a potential breakthrough that could have led to the release of hostages and prisoners, a cessation of hostilities, and the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid.
The bloc also denounced recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a so-called “Greater Israel,” describing them as “an extension of extremist rhetoric, incitement, and aggression against the sovereignty of states,” as well as a violation of international law and the UN Charter.
The OIC further accused Israel of undermining the two-state solution through its approval of the controversial E1 settlement project, which would effectively split the occupied West Bank, isolating East Jerusalem from the rest of Palestinian territories.
In addition, the Islamic bloc strongly condemned the deliberate killing of journalists in Gaza, calling it both a war crime and a direct assault on press freedom.
The statement urged all states to take “legal and effective measures” against Israel, including sanctions, suspension of arms sales, and reassessment of diplomatic and economic ties. It also called on the UN Security Council to act under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to stop Israeli assaults.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 62,700 Palestinians, leaving the enclave in ruins and facing famine.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) last November issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel is also defending itself against a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
