OIC Secy-Gen for Urgent Int’l Action to Stop Israeli Strike

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha addressing an extraordinary session of OIC Foreign Ministers on Monday Aug 25, 2025

Jeddah, 25-08-2025 - The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), His Excellency Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, called for redoubling efforts on various fronts to confront the ongoing crimes of the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories, particularly in the Gaza Strip. This came during his speech at the opening session of the extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States, held on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

The Secretary-General also warned of the seriousness of the announcement made by Israel, the occupying power, about its intention to impose full military control over the Gaza Strip, and the racist statements of its Prime Minister regarding what he calls “the vision of Greater Israel.” He called on the international community to take concrete steps to break the blockade and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The Secretary-General reiterated the OIC’s rejection and condemnation of the colonial settlement policy in the Palestinian territories, most recently the approval of the settlement expansion plan in the E1 area of occupied Al-Quds, and the Israeli occupation’s systematic targeting of journalists in the Gaza Strip, stressing that this requires legal prosecution in accordance with international criminal law.

The Secretary-General also emphasized the OIC’s support for UNRWA, which plays a vital role in serving Palestinian refugees. He also called for continued efforts to achieve a ceasefire, ensure the return of displaced persons, the withdrawal of occupation forces, and progress in preparations for the Gaza Reconstruction Conference in Cairo.

In his speech, the Secretary-General also welcomed the outcomes of the High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question, co-chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic in New York, calling on all states to adopt the final document. He also welcomed the announcement by several states recognizing the State of Palestine and urged other states to follow suit and support Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations.

The opening session featured speeches by His Excellency Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye; His Excellency Serigne Modou Ndiaye, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia; His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and His Excellency Riyad Mansour, Permanent Representative of Palestine to the United Nations.

The meeting discussed ways to mobilize support from OIC Member States for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the face of Israeli aggression and the restoration of their legitimate rights. – OIC News