Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 06/06/2010
General Secretariat Headquarters,
Jeddah, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
23 Jumada Al-Thani 1431h
(06 June 2010)
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakathu
Allow me, at the outset, to extend to you my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your efforts and for your prompt response in convening this important meeting to discuss the fallouts of the Israeli aggression on the Freedom Flotilla on its way to the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian relief to the unjustly blockaded people of Palestine.
May I also from this tribune, extend my heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families of the martyrs who lost their lives as a result of this crime perpetrated by Israel, the occupying power, against the civilians. My thoughts are also with the injured, to whom I wish a prompt recovery and to all the other participants in the Freedom Flotilla for whom I wish a safe return to their countries and families, having achieved such a distinctive act of glory, dignity and humanity.
May I, at the same time, pay a special tribute for the noble stand adopted by the Republic of Turkey, a stand that is indicative of a high sense of responsibility and distinct valour in the defense of the causes of the Islamic Ummah through a large and effective participation in the Freedom Flotilla, and through the positions expressed by its Government after Israel committed its crime. My special tribute also goes to all those who participated in staging this maritime convoy, both individuals and institutions, as well as to all those who volunteered to sail on these ships in this noble mission.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The recent aggression by the Israeli forces was against the civilians from 32 countries, representing many faiths; Christianity, Islam, Judaism and people from all creeds and backgrounds, who actually represents the conscience of the international community. Therefore, it should be interpreted as an attack on the United Nations and its values. After all, the objective of the mission was to address the needs of 1,5 million Palestinian people who have been experiencing Israel’s siege and blockade for the last four years, lacking food, electricity, medicine as well as building materials, and awaiting the international community to stand up to this injustice .
Indeed, the deadly Israeli attack on Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla, in international waters, was the latest crime to be added to the endless record of violations of international law committed by the Israeli forces against innocent civilians. Israel, by doing that, tramples on the human rights of Palestinians, violates international law, and fuels the tragic cycle of violence in the Middle East. This immoral outrage at the highest order should not pass uncensored, and Israel must face the political and legal consequences of its criminal actions.
The Israeli aggression against the Freedom Flotilla represents a policy of piracy, criminality and state organized terrorism, but this time, it exceeded all the red lines; the deadly raid targeted international campaign of humanitarian-oriented convoy that has an identified destination, objectives and mission. The piracy in international waters, which has been, in defiance to international law, perpetrated by the Israeli forces, requires an independent, impartial, credible and transparent investigation, corresponding to international standards with the aim of identifying those responsible for their illegal acts against humanity.
The siege of Gaza, imposed by Israel, breeds human suffering of the Palestinian citizens, violates the human and civil rights, and impedes access of humanitarian and development aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. This is the time, to end the plight of more than a million and a half million Palestinians, to lift the siege and enable them live with dignity.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since the first moments of Israel’s perpetration of this crime, we have condemned this action as a form of state terrorism and piracy which warrant the prosecution of those who planned or executed it. I have invited our OIC Ambassadorial Groups in both New York and Geneva to act in concert in favour of the adoption of an international stand condemning this odious crime and of lifting the lawless blockade on the Gaza Strip.
As a matter of fact, the Islamic Group in New York has put in diligent action in order to achieve a UN common stand on this crime, though the Security Council’s presidential statement fell rather short of our expectations. Also the OIC Ambassadorial Group in New York held a meeting on 3rd June to look into this crime, and issued a declaration in which it called on the UN Secretary General to promptly launch a credible, independent, transparent, impartial and comprehensive investigation into the Israeli military aggression with its various aspects and considerations, in accordance with international standards, along with the call for bringing to justice the perpetrators of this crime..
On another front, the OIC Ambassadorial Group in Geneva responded to the invitation which I had addressed to them to exert joint efforts at the Human Rights Council for the adoption of a resolution condemning the Israeli attack and establishing an international investigation committee about it. Accordingly, the Council did adopt the draft resolution sponsored by the Islamic Group in which it condemned this abominable crime and demanded Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza Strip. In addition, the Council decided to set up an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate this crime. And I wish here to renew my call for a prompt implementation of the Human Rights Council’s decision, and for a prompt credible, integral, international investigation to be undertaken in conformity with international standards, to bring to justice all those who planned this crime or partook in its perpetration.
We are aware that the blockade imposed by the Israeli occupant on Gaza Strip has exacerbated the ordeal faced by the Palestinian citizens and continues to stand in the way of the delivery of humanitarian and developmental assistance to the blockaded Gaza Strip. And it is high time for putting an end to the siege endured by over 1.5 million Palestinians and enabling them to live in liberty, dignity and peace. Our Organization was the first to demand that this oppressive blockade on Gaza be lifted and has since started coordinating relief convoys to bring succor to the Gazans who have endured so much agony under the blockade and the aggressions.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world today is going through a transitional period where a new distribution of economic and political powers is taking shape. The Islamic World with its great potential, whether in terms of natural and human resources, or on account of its strategic position and its political networks, has in its possession the necessary tools to become genuine partner in this newly emerging and developing balance of powers. I am fully confident that this is in no way beyond our capacity, that the determined resolve of the leaders of our Islamic Ummah is the best guarantee for the achievement of this goal and that the OIC framework is the proper one through which the aspirations of the Islamic Ummah and the hopes of its peoples and states may be attained.
This is indeed a moment of genuine action. Whilst we have been calling upon the international Community with all its institutions, on all occasions, to act for the lifting of the blockade imposed on the Palestinian people, the Islamic Ummah itself is today invited to do its utmost in favour of putting an end to the injustice meted upon the people of Palestine. Indeed this great nation of Islam which was capable, even in the most somber episodes of its history, of evolving solutions to overcome the most difficult crises, is now duty-bound to dust off the remnants of the crisis and transform the resources with which God has blessed it, into real action that is commensurate with its size, its role and its message.
I also need to recall here that your Executive Committee, in its expanded extraordinary meeting held at the General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah on 27 Shawwal 1427H (18/11/2006) had taken a decision calling upon all States to break the blockade imposed on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
Your august committee has also held an expanded extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers in Jeddah on 25 Muharram 1429H (3 February 2008), and took a decision welcoming the initiative launched by the OIC Secretary General to drum up support to secure the necessary humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.
This is the moment when we must all implement these decisions in addition to whatever other new steps and measures required under the current circumstances to put an end to this unprecedented humanitarian tragedy.
Despite what is being said regarding limited options, there is still a lot that can be done to put an end to this Israeli contempt of International Law and disdain of our Ummah. In this context, I wish to urge the Member States of our Organization to rally and work together with friendly regional groups and other UN Member States to convene a meeting of the UN General Assembly within the framework of “Uniting for Peace” in order to ensure that the UN shoulders its responsibility in lifting the oppressive blockade on Gaza Strip.
At the same time, I wish to invite you to consider setting up a legal experts group to convene as soon as possible and work out appropriate concepts as to the legal course through which the Israeli officials who planned this crime and those who participated in carrying it out, are brought to justice. The legal course needs to be duly explored in our endeavor to achieve justice and ensure the lifting of the oppression visited upon our brothers in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Also, and in view of the size of the humanitarian tragedy endured by the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, I wish to call here for continued extension of all kinds of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in all fields.
This tragedy that took place in international waters and caused the death of human beings whose only intent was to reach out to their oppressed brothers in Gaza, has tweaked the conscience of the world which has awakened to the actual reality of the Palestinian saga. This tragedy has generated an outpouring of international sympathy in favour of Palestine and its just cause, and it is now incumbent upon the Palestinian leaderships and the leaders of the Islamic world not to let this opportunity pass us by as has been the case with previous opportunities, so that we may further rally such global sympathy and turn it into a real active political support in favour of the Palestinian cause.
In conclusion, I wish to reiterate my sincere thanks to you all for your attendance of this important extraordinary meeting and to wish your deliberations every success in coming out with resolutions that are in commensuration with the challenges imposed by the current developments of the Palestinian issue.
Wasslalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh
