OIC reaffirms Islamic identity of Al-Aqsa, condemns Israeli annexation of West Bank
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), during an extraordinary meeting of its Executive Committee at the level of foreign ministers held in Jeddah, reaffirmed that Al-Aqsa Mosque, in its entirety of 144,000 square meters, is an exclusively Muslim place of worship, within the framework of the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites.
In its final communiqué on Thursday evening, the conferees strongly rejected Zionist regime’s efforts to expand settlements, impose annexation and assert “so-called Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.
Participants condemned all Israeli measures aimed at altering the legal and historical status of the occupied Palestinian territory, describing them as null and void, in violation of international law, and constituting war crimes that threaten regional and international peace and security.
The OIC also denounced recent remarks by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and the US embassy’s decision to provide consular services to Israeli settlers in West Bank settlements, saying such steps encourage illegal control over Palestinian land and violate international law, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Reaffirming the centrality of the Palestinian cause and Al-Quds to the Islamic world, the meeting stressed its commitment to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including self-determination, the right of return, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Al-Quds as its capital.
The OIC called for moving to the second phase of the ceasefire plan in Gaza Strip, achieving a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, ensuring full Israeli withdrawal, and facilitating unrestricted humanitarian aid into the enclave.
It also expressed support for Palestine’s role in recovery and reconstruction, emphasizing the unity of Gaza and the West Bank, including Al-Quds, as a single, indivisible geopolitical entity.
The conferees pledged to pursue political and legal measures to confront Israeli policies, including recourse to the UN Security Council, General Assembly and international courts, and urged the international community to compel Israel to end its occupation and consider concrete punitive steps, including reviewing relations.
It further called for international protection for the Palestinian people and reaffirmed support for holding Zionist regime accountable, while condemning Zionist regime’s measures targeting UNRWA and urging continued political, legal and financial backing for the UN agency.