Arab, Islamic ministers reject Israeli displacement plans, demand Gaza ceasefire
Foreign ministers from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Monday rejected any Israeli attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land, condemning what they described as policies of siege, starvation, and military escalation in Gaza.
“The Foreign Ministers of the Arab-OIC Committee on Gaza categorically reject all statements made by Israel regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people from their territory, occupied since 1967, under any pretext.” the ministers said in a joint statement issued after a committee meeting on Gaza.
“They also condemn Israel’s policy of uprooting the Palestinian people from their land through expanding the military operations in Gaza, the use of siege and starvation as methods of war, the continued targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and its efforts to prolong and widen the conflict that is already threatening regional and international peace and security.”
The ministers said Israel’s actions in the enclave and the West Bank, including settlement expansion, settler violence, home demolitions and land seizures, amounted to violations of international law that must be stopped. They warned that such measures risked amounting to ethnic cleansing and genocide.
The statement called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, unfettered humanitarian access through all crossings, and international support to enable the Palestinian Authority to return to the enclave and take part in state-building efforts.
The ministers urged the United Nations Security Council to act to protect Palestinians, safeguard their right to remain in Gaza and the West Bank including East Jerusalem, and end what they described as Israel’s illegal occupation.
They also reaffirmed support for the creation of a Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, saying this remained the only path to self-determination, peace and stability in line with international resolutions.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English