At the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Chair of the Islamic Summit and the headquarters state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a virtual emergency meeting of the Executive Committee at the level of foreign ministers was held here today to discuss the bloody events and Israeli attacks in the land of Palestine, especially in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and what Israel is carrying out in the vicinity of the holy Aqsa Mosque.
The meeting was chaired by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, who delivered a speech at the beginning of the meeting in which he welcomed all, appreciating their participation and response to the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the current chair of the Islamic Summit, to participate in this meeting sensing the importance of the escalating events in Palestine, due to Israel’s flagrant violations of the sanctity of Islamic sanctuaries and the attack on Palestinian worshipers and civilians, violating all international resolutions, charters and principles of international humanitarian law, which guarantee freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites for all followers of religions, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The Prince said, ” The occupation authorities’ forcible seizure of homes and lands of the citizens of Jerusalem (Al-Quds) represents, as you all know, a form of forced displacement, which is strongly rejected and condemned by all international laws, including the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No. 2234, which affirms that East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) is a Palestinian land that can not be infringed upon “.
He affirmed that from this standpoint, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announces its total rejection and strong condemnation of the provocative Israeli plans or measures aimed at evacuating Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) by force, imposing sovereignty over them, and all military actions that have caused civilian victims, including innocent children and women, and all measures that would lead to undermine the chances of resuming the peace process, means for implementing the Arab peace initiative, and all international efforts aimed at achieving security, safety and stability in the region.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said, ” The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from the platform of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which was established on the basis of a historical legacy based on the service of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the Palestinian cause as they are the main pillars of its tasks which are of great interest to it, calls on the international community and all international human rights organizations and bodies to shoulder their responsibilities towards this dangerous escalation that violates all international norms and covenants, and that preserving Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the blood of the innocent are the responsibility of all of us. In the same regard, the Kingdom calls on the international community to take urgent action to immediately stop military operations, bring in aid, treat the wounded, and work to revive negotiations based on adherence to peace on the basis of the two-state solution in accordance with international references and the Arab Peace Initiative. The Kingdom also supports all efforts aimed at a ceasefire, including the efforts of the two sisterly states, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah added, “Islam calls for peace, and we were and still are advocates of peace, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques confirmed this in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly at its last (75th) session in September 2020 AD, and he quoted the King, “Peace in the Middle East is our strategic choice, and our duty is to spare no effort to work together towards achieving a bright future dominated by peace, stability, prosperity and coexistence among all peoples of the region. And the Kingdom supports all efforts aimed at advancing the peace process, as the Kingdom has proposed peace initiatives since 1981 AD, and the Arab Peace Initiative included foundations for a comprehensive and just solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict that guarantees that the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights, foremost among them is the establishment of their independent state, with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital”.
He said, ”The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to confirm that its continuing support for the Palestinian people stems from its deep belief in the importance of its just cause, and calls once again for the need for international efforts to join hands and intensify them to stop this dangerous escalation immediately and urgently work to quickly end this bleeding wound in the hearts of humanity to enhance the means of stability in the region, and to achieve decent living for our brothers in Palestine”.
The Prince reiterated his thanks and appreciation to everyone for their participation and interaction, wishing this meeting to be crowned with success and to be of help to our people in Palestine.
OIC Secretary-General, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, delivered a speech in which he stressed that the ongoing hostilities, seizure of properties, and the calls for the eviction of the right-holders from their lands are a denial of their legitimate rights. Furthermore, it does not help the peace process efforts but instead ruins sincere attempts to reach a just, comprehensive, and lasting solution.
Dr. Al-Othaimeen affirmed the OIC’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and the establishment of their state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital, according to the outcomes of the Arab Peace Initiative and the UN resolutions based on the two-state solution, and the restoration of all rights of the Palestinian people according to those legal references. He added that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the President of the Islamic Summit, expressed similar words on multiple occasions. The King has affirmed his solidarity with the Palestinian people and the restoration of their legitimate rights, which was also expressed by all the decisions that were issued at the OIC’s summits and council of foreign ministers organization’s statements.
