OIC Secretary-General condemns Israel’s persistence in its offensive on Gaza Strip – OIC Press release

PRESS RELEASE

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE CONDEMNS ISRAEL'S PERSISTENCE IN ITS OFFENSIVE ON THE GAZA STRIP AND CALLS FOR URGENT INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FOR THE PALESTINIANS

           Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz, the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), has expressed his strong condemnation of the persistent genocidal offensive being waged by the Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip for several days now. He launched a stinging attack on Israel's proclaimed intention to expand its campaign in the next few days despite the UN Secretary-General's demand to immediately bring it to an end and despite the offer from the Palestinian resistance to stop firing rockets at Israeli settlements in Gaza in exchange for an end to the Israeli army's operations in the Gaza Strip.  

           Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz called on the international community, particularly the Quartet Committee, to work to bring Israel back to peaceful negotiations on the basis of the Roadmap and to put a definitive end to its persistent aggression against the Palestinian people, its continued practice of the policy of assassinations and mass killings of Palestinians, and its destruction of property and infrastructure in the Palestinian territories. He emphasized that this policy not only fails to serve the peace process but actually fuels the cycle of violence and increases instability in the region.

          The Secretary-General appealed to the UN Security Council to immediately intervene in order to secure urgent international protection for the Palestinians and facilitate humanitarian relief operations, which now constitute their most pressing needs.

          Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz called on the OIC Member States to extend urgent relief assistance to hundreds of Palestinian families displaced as a result of the genocidal campaign being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation army.

Jeddah, 04 October 2004