Meeting rejects Israel's 'sinister agenda'

A high-level meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation called for international solidarity in pressuring Israel to accept a "solution" as it rejected Tel Aviv's "sinister agenda" in the West Bank and Gaza amid famine and unrelenting atrocities.

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha said they hold Israel accountable and condemned its declaration and intention to impose a military attack and total siege on the Gaza Strip and urged continued work to come to a peaceful settlement.

"We support the final document of this conference and we support the declaration made by many countries. We hope this decision will come out with important measures to stop Israeli aggression," said Taha.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said solidarity alone "is not enough" as he called for stronger collective action. He said the meeting would focus on three urgent tasks — halting the war, forging a united response in the global Muslim community and mobilizing the international community.

Turkiye chaired the opening of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

"What the Palestinians need more than ever is our collective action. …The mobilization of the entire international community is indispensable," said Fidan.

He warned that if a ceasefire is not secured soon, Israel "would continue its occupation plans and escalate its atrocities".

"Our immediate priority is to secure a lasting ceasefire and deliver lifesaving humanitarian aid to Gaza.… We will continue to support the peace efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States and do our best to help the mediators," said Fidan.

Unlawful attacks

"Furthermore, Israel's aggression will not stop with Palestine. The frequent unlawful attacks of the regime on Syria, Lebanon and Iran reveal a broader and sinister agenda to destabilize our entire region. If not stopped, this threatens to engulf the Middle East and beyond. Let our resolution today be a pledge. Palestine will endure and its people will attain freedom, justice and peace," said Fidan.

He called on the countries to join forces in sustaining and expanding the momentum for Palestine's recognition, launching an initiative within the United Nations for Palestine's full membership. He also called for Israel's suspension from the UN General Assembly.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said Israel's actions constitute a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian norms, and rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's calls for implementing the "Greater Israel" vision.

He called on those still hesitant to put an end to this impunity, as the continuation of the impunity "will undermine the rules of the international system, law and cooperation".

Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, said they required all the legal tools to put an end to the conflict.

He assured the meeting that Palestine was "ready to work with stakeholders" from the Arab League to the UN Security Council members as well as international partners "to put an end to this barbaric war and bloodshed".

On the ground, Gaza's civil defense agency said five journalists were among at least 20 people killed on Monday, when Israeli strikes hit a hospital in the south, with Reuters, The Associated Press and Al Jazeera mourning their slain contributors.

According to media watchdogs, around 200 journalists have been killed in nearly two years of conflict in Gaza.

In Yemen's capital Sanaa, Israeli bombardment on Sunday killed at least six people and injured 86 others while causing huge fires in major oil facilities. It was one of the worst direct Israeli attacks on Yemeni targets in over a year.

Agencies contributed to this story.