Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the recent approval by Israel to construct 764 new settlement units and its announcement of a plan to establish 17 new settlements in the occupied West Bank over the next five years.
The OIC issued a statement expressing its strongest condemnation of what it described as the Israeli entity’s continued expansionist policies. These policies, according to the OIC, are aimed at annexing more Palestinian land and imposing what it considers an illegitimate sovereignty over the occupied territories.
The organization views these actions as a blatant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. It reiterated its firm stance in support of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The OIC called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to take immediate and decisive action to halt the construction of new settlements and dismantle existing ones. The organization emphasized the need for a comprehensive and just peace process based on the two-state solution.
The statement further highlighted the OIC’s unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against the occupation and for the realization of their legitimate national aspirations. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to providing all forms of support to the Palestinian cause.
The OIC considers the Israeli settlement activity as a major obstacle to achieving a lasting peace in the region and warned that these actions further exacerbate tensions and undermine the prospects for a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
