OIC stresses importance of Arab-Islamic Summit to address crimes and escalation of Israeli occupation

Jeddah: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) highlighted the paramount importance of convening the Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in light of the dangerous escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the ongoing Israeli occupation aggression that includes siege, destruction and displacement.

Speaking at the preparatory ministerial meeting for the Summit, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Taha warned of the dire consequences of the Israeli occupation's measures against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), stressing its vital role in providing basic services to Palestinian refugees, as well as being a manifestation the international community’s commitment and responsibility towards the Palestinian cause.

He emphasised that the continued violations of the Israeli occupation threaten regional peace and stability, stressing the need to double international and individual efforts to stop the crimes being committed against the Palestinian people and prevent the occupation from expanding the circle of war and destabilizing the region.

The OIC Secretary-General called for supporting the implementation of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the illegality of the occupation and accelerating the achievement of the two-state solution.

Arab and Muslim leaders are due to convene the Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia later today to address the unprecedented crises unfolding in the Gaza Strip, the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, and de-escalation efforts amid rising tensions in the region.