Press Release
Ihsanoglu appeals for urgent relief to the beleaguered Palestinian people
The living conditions of the Palestinian people these days are taking a dangerous turn as a result of the financial and economic ban imposed on them by the Israeli occupation authorities through confiscating the Palestinian tax revenues and closing all domestic and international crossings. This situation which is involving ominous humanitarian threats is taking the form of a collective punishment condemned by all relevant international covenants and conventions, and running counter to the most basic principles of international humanitarian law. Therefore, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), appeals to all States and civil society institutions of the Muslim world to provide most urgently needed material and food relief for the besieged Palestinian people. By the same token, he appeals to international humanitarian organizations to help break this siege in order to deliver relief assistance to all Palestinian areas.
The Secretary-General calls upon the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the European Union and the parties to the Roadmap to immediately intervene in order to put an end to these illegal Israeli actions and to condemn them as internationally prohibited practices.
Jeddah, 23 March 2006.
Document Sources: Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
Subject: Assistance, Humanitarian relief
Publication Date: 23/03/2006