Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 18/10/2023
The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, strongly condemned the horrific massacre perpetrated by the Israeli occupation through the shelling of the Al-Ma’madani private hospital in the Gaza Strip. This brutal act resulted in the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians and many others injured. The Secretary-General described this as a war crime that contravenes all humane values and state terrorism deserving accountability and sanction. He also prayed for the repose of thousands of souls lost during this heinous Israeli aggression.
In a speech delivered at the open-ended extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee at the OIC headquarters on Wednesday 18 October 2023 to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, the Secretary-General expressed full solidarity with the Palestinian people and support for their just struggle to claim their right to self-determination and establish a sovereign independent state. He also underscored the need for concerted efforts to stop the unprecedented Israeli aggression and ensure the opening of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the delivery of medicine, food, and basic needs to the Gaza Strip.
Mr Taha recalled that the OIC had warned on more than one occasion about the dangerous consequences of continued open war against the Palestinian people. He stressed that the war is only being repeated because of the absence of international legal and political deterrence, disrespect for the rule of international law, and impunity on the part of Israel, the occupying power, in its policies of settlement, forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, killing, organized terrorism, desecration of holy sites and other practices against the Palestinian people.
The Secretary-General noted that the ongoing aggression in the Gaza Strip has violated all principles and values through killing and injuring thousands of Palestinians, including children, women, and the aged, and through forced displacement of families, indiscriminate destruction of residential, educational, health and media facilities, including those of UNRWA, and civilian infrastructure in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
The Secretary-General expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for convening the extraordinary meeting, noting that the invitation is in continuation of the Kingdom’s constant position on the causes of the Islamic ummah and notably the cause of Palestine.
