Final Communiqué of the Expanded Extraordinary Executive Committee Meeting at the Level of Foreign Ministers on the Grave Situation in the Occupied State of Palestine, including Al-Quds Ash-Sharif at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
12 August 2014 AD (16 Shawwal 1435 AH)
The Executive Committee,
Convened at its expanded extraordinary meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers, held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 12 August 2014 (16 Shawwal 1435 AH);
Proceeding from the principles and objectives of the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and pursuant to the resolutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Ash-Sharif;
Recalling the recommendations of the expanded extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the level of Foreign Ministers held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 10 July 2014;
Stressing that the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Al-Quds, constitutes a single territorial unit;
Affirming also that the continuation of Israeli occupation and its illegal practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and its serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, is the basis of the current tension; confirming also that the inability of the international community and relevant institutions to carry out their responsibilities to hold Israel, the occupying Power, accountable for its crimes, contributed to its persistence, and to depriving the Palestinian People from exercising their right to self-determination;
Paying tribute to the steadfastness of the Palestinian People in the face of Israeli aggression, and affirming its full support to the just struggle of the Palestinian people to regain their inalienable national rights, including the materialization of the sovereignty of an independent State of Palestine with the City of Al-Quds Ash-Sharif as its capital;
Affirming that the continuing Israeli violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the ongoing military aggression on the Gaza Strip, Judaization of Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, blockade of the Gaza Strip, settlements, and collective punishments, constitute war crimes and serious violations of international law, a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and its relevant resolutions, and a serious threat to international peace and security and undermine the stability of the entire region;
Emphasizing its full support for the Palestinian People in consolidating their national unity and solidity of their internal front in the face of Israeli aggression under the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian People, and expressing its support for the Palestinian national reconciliation government;
Stressing that the time has come for the UN Security Council to take measures in accordance with Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and apply the same to Israel, the occupying power, because of its persistence in violating the principles of the international law and the UN Charter and resolutions, and continued aggression against the Palestinian People and the occupation of their land;
Stressing the need to provide urgent support to help the Palestinian People and expressing its thanks to all the countries that have done so;
Having considered the report of the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the grave situation in Palestine, and listened to the statement of His Royal Highness Prince Saud Al Faisal, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chair of the 41st Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, as well as to the statement of H.E. Dr. Rami Al-Hamdallah, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine and the interventions of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation;
1- Condemns in the strongest terms Israel, the occupying Power, for the ongoing war crimes it has been committing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and expresses its deep concern over the continued brutal military aggression carried out by the Israeli occupation army by land, sea and air against the Palestinian People in the Gaza Strip.
2- Demands Israel, the occupying power, to stop its military aggression on the Palestinian People immediately, and holds it legally and politically accountable for the full consequences of the war crimes that are not subject to statutory limitations.
3- Supports and welcomes resolution A/HRC/S-21/L.1 issued by the Human Rights Council on 23 July 2014 and demands expeditious implementation of its provisions, particularly the urgent dispatching of an independent international investigation commission to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and particularly the occupied Gaza Strip. It expresses its deep regret about the United States’ vote against the resolution, and the abstention of European countries, which would encourage Israel to persist in its military aggression and violation of international law.
4- Expressed satisfaction at the holding of an extraordinary session of the UN General Assembly on the Situation in Gaza upon the initiative of Algeria on 6 August 2014, in which the international community reaffirmed its condemnation of the Israeli aggression and support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
5- Stresses the need for the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security, to take the necessary measures to stop the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, and to ensure Israel's compliance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and international law. In this regard, it reiterates its call on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take practical measures to force Israel to withdraw its troops from the occupied Palestinian territory and end its aggression, and to provide the necessary international protection for the Palestinian people and apply the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Hague Convention of 1907. In the event of the UN Security Council’s failure to take immediate action, the Committee invites all Member States to unite in support of the resumption of the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly under "Uniting for Peace", in addition to the use of all legal means to hold the Israeli occupation and its leaders accountable for their crimes against the Palestinian people and ensure they are prosecuted and brought to justice as war criminals. It also appeals to all friendly countries of the world to contribute effectively to the success of these efforts.
6- Stresses the need to support the Organisation’s efforts to launch an effective international action to support the State of Palestine’s membership of all international fora and support recognition of the State of Palestine.
7- Invites Member States to support the request of the State of Palestine to convene a meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to determine the measures to be taken in order to enforce and impose respect for the Convention in the Occupied State of Palestine, including East Al-Quds, and to take practical measures to stop violations and ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli occupation and the gangs of Israeli settlers against Palestinians civilians, including through written correspondence to Switzerland as the depositary State.
8- Calls for an urgent initiation of the Ministerial Contact Group formed to move and engage with active international parties, stop the Israeli aggressions, and convey the message and resolutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
9- Expresses its deep concern about the deteriorating situation and the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip because of the continuing aggression and the Israeli inhumane blockade and other illegal actions against the Palestinian People in the Gaza Strip, and calls on the international community to pressure Israel, the occupying Power, to end the illegal blockade, open border crossings and ensure the free movement of people, materials and goods from and to the Gaza Strip.
10- Expresses appreciation for the efforts of the Arab Republic of Egypt to stop Israeli aggression and induce calm, including the earnest efforts over the past days to sponsor indirect negotiations aimed at meeting the needs of the Palestinian people, providing protection and ending the shedding of innocent blood. It also commends the decision to open the Rafah Crossing in order to receive the wounded and provide them with the necessary treatment, as well as the Arab Republic of Egypt’s effort to facilitate humanitarian assistance.
11- Expresses thanks and appreciation for the efforts put in by all OIC Member States which provided political, economic and humanitarian support for the State of Palestine, directly or indirectly, through bilateral channels or through international organisations and institutions, particularly in the light of the criminal Israeli aggression against all regions of the occupied State of Palestine. It demands that such support be consolidated at all levels so that the State of Palestine may stand in the face of the Israeli occupation and aggression and to overcome its destructive impacts.
12- Commends the efforts put in by the UNRWA to meet the vital needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip as well as the continuing humanitarian and medical assistance provided by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for many years.
13- Calls on Member States and institutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Arab and Islamic funds and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent financial and in-kind assistance, in coordination with the Government of the State of Palestine, in order to meet the emergency needs resulting from the escalating Israeli aggression and destruction of civilian residential facilities and infrastructure. This is in order for the Government of the State of Palestine to meet its obligations towards strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, secure the basic needs of the Palestinian citizens in the Gaza Strip, and alleviate their suffering. It calls for holding a donors' conference to rebuild what the Israeli aggression has destroyed, including the airport and seaport. In this regard, the Committee expresses deep appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for donating 300 million Saudi riyals to meet the expenses of the necessary health services resulting from the unjust Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. It also expresses appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its commitment of continuous financial support for the Gaza Strip reconstruction programme, as well as for its US$500 million donation through the Saudi Development Fund.
14- Strongly condemns the expansionist settlement policy pursued by Israel, the occupying power, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and stresses that all Israeli settlement activities are null and void in accordance with international law and international legitimacy resolutions. It calls upon all States to take possible measures to force Israel to stop the building of settlements, including imposition of political and economic sanctions on Israel, and boycotting those companies that operate at the colonial settlements built on the occupied Palestinian territory.
15- Expresses its strong condemnation of the continuing Israeli incitement acts, attacks and violations in the occupied East Jerusalem, particularly at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and confirms that the continuation of these racist acts will lead to dire consequences for the security and stability of the entire region. In this regard, it commends the efforts of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in countering these aggressions as well as the efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein in the protection of Islamic and Christian sanctities in Al Quds Al Sharif.
16- Calls for an urgent international intervention to stop the Israeli campaign of arbitrary detention that affected more than 1000 Palestinians, including members of the Legislative Council and freed prisoners, including pre-Oslo prisoners, and work towards their release. It stresses the illegality of the occupation courts and their decisions.
17- Calls upon the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to finalize the efforts to form an international legal team at the Organization, taking into account the proposal by the State of Palestine to pursue and follow up the files of Israeli leaders and institute proceedings at the International Criminal Court, including the Apartheid file on Israel, the occupying power; it emphasizes the need for Member States to provide the necessary budget.
18- The participating delegations expressed thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its wise chairmanship of the meeting.
19- The participating delegations expressed thanks to His Excellency the Secretary General for efforts made in preparation for the meeting, which contributed to its success and the achievement of its objectives.
20- The Secretary General was entrusted with coordinating the implementation and follow-up of this communiqué.
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/OIC_GazaCommuniquef.pdf
Document Type: Arabic text, Communiqué, French text
Document Sources: Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
Subject: Access and movement, Armed conflict, Ceasefire, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Gaza Strip, Health, Humanitarian relief, Negotiations and agreements
Publication Date: 12/08/2014