PRESS RELEASE
Issued by Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, on the Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza Strip
The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has stated that the withdrawal of the Israeli army and settlers from Gaza strip was a positive step which will enable the Palestinian people to regain their national rights. He also stressed that the withdrawal should be neat and total from all Gaza Strip territories, including land, sea and air crossings and should preserve the geographical unity of the Palestinian territories in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The Secretary General said that the withdrawal should be an integral part of the Road Map and should be followed by other Israeli withdrawals from lands it occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem. It should also include the dismantling of Israeli settlements, the separation wall and all barriers on the Palestinian territories, the ending of all Israeli practices and measures against the Palestinian people as well as the release of all Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The Secretary General, while congratulating the Palestinian people and leadership over this achievement, expressed his hope that the withdrawal process would not be marred by any clashes, and that the Palestinian national unity would be a guarantee for the Palestinian people to continue their just struggle for the sake of freedom and independence.
Jeddah : 15 August 2005
Document Sources: Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
Subject: Gaza Strip, Palestine question, Settlements, Statehood-related
Publication Date: 15/08/2005