World Leaders Condemn Israel as Gaza Outrage Grows

The OIC Group at an Aug. 12 press briefing to present their joint statement on recent developments in the Gaza Strip, following an OIC Group emergency meeting on Aug. 11 after Israel announced its plan to take complete military control of the Gaza Strip.

The world is increasingly outraged at Israel for its actions in the ongoing war against Hamas, particularly amid the recent killings of Palestinian journalists and Israel’s announcement of its plan to seize full military control of the Gaza Strip.

The plan, approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet on August 8, includes disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, implementing Israeli control, and establishing “an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority,” according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s posts on X.

“The [Israel Defence Forces (IDF)] will prepare for taking control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to civilians outside combat zones,” Netanyahu posted on X.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the United Nations (OIC Group) released a joint statement condemning and rejecting the plan on August 12, following an emergency meeting on August 11.

“We consider this announcement a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, a flagrant violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli by force, in contravention of international law, international humanitarian law, and relevant United Nations resolutions,” the statement said.

The group demanded an immediate and complete end to Israel’s violence against Gaza and to the damage inflicted on civilians and civilian infrastructure. They also called for the unrestricted entry and operation of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

“The group reaffirms that this declared course of action by Israel constitutes a continuation of its grave violations, including killing and starvation, forced displacement, and annexation of Palestinian land, along with settler terrorism, which may amount to crimes against humanity,” the statement said.

In a statement on August 8, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk demanded the “immediate halt” of the plan. He said it conflicts with the International Court of Justice’s ruling that Israel must end its occupation, respect a two-State solution, and uphold Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

“Instead of intensifying this war, the Israeli Government should focus on saving the lives of Gaza’s civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid,” he said.

The August 10 targeted killing of six journalists, including four Al-Jazeera journalists in Gaza City, further amplified discussions about Israel’s human rights violations. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) reported that 238 journalists have been killed since the war began.

“The deliberate targeting of journalists by Israel in Gaza reveals crimes beyond imagination amid the inability of the international community and its laws to stop this tragedy,” Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani posted on X. “May God have mercy on journalists Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qraiqea, and their colleagues.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an independent and impartial investigation into the killings.

“Journalists and media workers must be respected, protected, and allowed to carry out their work freely, without fear or harassment,” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said on August 11.

The OIC Group will host a special meeting to discuss next steps following this tragedy, according to Deputy Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the UN Fikriye Asli Güven. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, said the OIC Group is also pressuring the Security Council to take action.

“This is a deliberate policy to silence journalists, but the truth cannot be silenced,” Güven said.

Amid developments in Gaza, Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, noted a more unified global front developing against Israel.

“There is a merging cohesion and unity and outrage over what is really happening, and they are exerting tremendous pressure to stop the killing, achieve a permanent ceasefire, and allow humanitarian assistance,” Mansour said.

This shift is also visible in the increasing number of countries criticizing Israel’s plans.

Foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom, along with the EU High Representative, released a joint statement on August 9 rejecting Israel’s Gaza plan.

“The plans announced by the Government of Israel risk violating international humanitarian law,” the statement said. “Any attempts at annexation or settlement expansion violate international law.”

The ministers urged an end to the “terrible conflict” and requested that Israel change its registration system for humanitarian organizations to allow aid workers into the region.

“Their exclusion would be an egregious signal,” the statement said.

The ministers also reiterated their support for a two-State solution.

Mansour praised European countries’ recent actions to pressure Israel, including Spain’s reduction of arms sales and Germany’s arms export ban, calling them “modest but very important steps.” He also highlighted Norway’s withdrawal of assets from Israel, Colombia’s coal trade halt, and Australia’s recognition of the state of Palestine as practical measures to apply pressure.

The OIC Group called on the international community, especially the Security Council’s permanent members, to halt Israel’s policies undermining peace and violating international law and international humanitarian law.

They also pushed for a two-State solution and the Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan for Gaza, led by Egypt, to rebuild the region, with participation in the upcoming Cairo reconstruction conference.

“We affirm that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through the two-State solution,” the Group’s statement said.

For Mansour, a united global front will be crucial to accelerating countries’ actions against Israel.

“There is nothing we can do about those already killed, but we can do a lot to save the lives of those still alive, and it is our responsibility to do everything possible to save them,” he said.

By September, Mansour hopes 100 more countries will sign the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. The conference, created by France and Saudi Arabia, will resume on September 22.

“It is not the destiny of the Palestinian people to have an eternal conflict with Israel and continue losing thousands of children, women, and people to Israel’s war machine,” Mansour said. “It is our duty to convince everyone that there is another alternative: an immediate ceasefire.”