Communique Adopted by the OIC Executive Committee on Escalation of Aggression by Israel (Non-UN Document)

This is a non-United Nations document. The United Nations provides these documents only as a convenience for reference purposes, and the inclusion of a document does not imply the endorsement of its content by the United Nations.

Arabic: العربية

The Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at its open-ended meeting held on Monday 27 February 2023 on the escalation of aggression by Israel, the illegal colonial occupation authority, against Nablus and the entire territory of the State of Palestine, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, at the OIC General Secretariat, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

Guided by the principles and objectives enshrined in the OIC and UN Charters and the resolutions of the Islamic Summit and the Council of Foreign Ministers on the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Shareef,

Commending the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in countering the ongoing barbaric aggression by Israel, the illegal colonial occupation authority, and affirming its support for the just struggle of the Palestinian people to reclaim their national rights, including their right to self-determination and to actualize the sovereignty of the State of Palestine on their independent land, with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its capital,

Closely following the barbaric military campaign and aggression being conducted by the Israeli colonial occupation army in the territory of the state of Palestine, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, the most recent being the aggression against Nablus on 22 February 2023 which claimed the lives of 11 martyrs and injured scores of Palestinian civilians, including children and the elderly,

Affirming that the ongoing Israeli crimes and violations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Al-Quds Al-Shareefand the continuation of its colonial policies constitute serious war crimes, crime against humanity, flagrant violation of relevant international legitimacy resolution, and grave threat to security and stability in the entire region,

1. Strongly condemns the continued violations by Israel, the illegal colonial occupation authority, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the recent heinous crimes in Nablus which claimed 11 lives and left scores of Palestinian civilians injured; also condemns strongly the ongoing crimes by gangs of Israeli colonialists, supported and protected by the Israeli occupation army, working as abranch of the army against unarmed Palestinian citizens and their properties. Affirms that these growing crimes have reached dangerous levels that cannot be ignored and must be confronted at all levels, including by listing the colonialists, their groups and leaders in the international terrorism list. Holds, in this regard, the Israeli colonialist occupation government fully responsible for the colonialists’ crimes in Hawara, Zaatara, Burin and other parts of the State of Palestine, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef. Calls on the international community to assume its responsibility in restraining the armed colonialists and the Israeli army from these atrocities and crimes against the unarmed Palestinian people and holding their perpetrators accountable;

2. Holds Israel, the illegal colonial occupation authority, fullyresponsible for the repercussions of such barbaric acts and heinous crimes perpetrated by the occupation army against the Palestinian people; and affirms that the Israeli colonial settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, the illegal bill aimed at legalizing 9settlements and the plans to build thousands of new settlement units, are illegal, constitute an obstacle to peace and undermine the two-state solution;

3. Calls on the international community, in particular, the Security Council to assume its responsibility of maintaininginternational peace and security and to take all necessary measures to provide protection for the Palestinian people, end continued Israeli violations and ensure compliance by Israel, the illegal colonial occupation authority, with international legitimacy resolutions and international law;

4. Requests the group of OIC ambassadors at relevant international organizations to act urgently to condemn the continued Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, their territory and holy sites, and to demand activation of international protection for the Palestinian people in line with international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to contact international actors and address letters to all Member States of the Security Council, the United Nations Secretary General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the President of the European Union to convey the stance of the OIC on this continued violations of the State of Palestine’s territory, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef and to demand for cessation and deterrence of these Israeli attacks and provide international protection for the Palestinian people;

6. Invites international actors parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to assume their responsibility, to impose respect for the Convention in the occupied State of Palestine, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, and to take necessary practical measures to stop the ongoing violations and crimes perpetrated by Israel, the illegal colonial occupation authority, and the gangs of Israeli settlers against the civilian Palestinian nationals;

7. Urges the International Criminal Court to launch criminal investigation and hold accountable perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity and other crimes that were and are still being committed by Israel, the occupation power, against unarmed Palestinian people, including the crimes of aggression , colonial settlement, annexation, premeditated killing of Palestinian civilians and forced expulsion;

8. Demands urgent international intervention to stop the Israeli campaign of arbitrary arrest of many Palestinians in the State of Palestine’s territory, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, work for their release and stop unfair treatment to them; emphasizes the illegality of Israeli occupation courts and their decisions, specifically the recent bill providing for their denial from treatment; and affirms that the freedom of all prisoners is an essential condition for peace;

9. Calls for support for the efforts and orientation of the State of Palestine to continue its action at the International Court of Justice, under the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution at its 77th session calling for the Court’s advisory opinion on the essence of the Israeli colonial occupation in the State of Palestine’s territory and the consequences of its existence and associated illegal practices. Welcoming the International Court of Justice’s determination of dates for states and international organizations to file written submissions at the Court, Callson OIC Member States and the General Secretariat to be ready to file relevant written and oral submissions for presentation before the Court;

10. Reiterates the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation between the OIC, the League of Arab States and the African Union to ensure comprehensive follow-up of the dangerous and escalating situation in the occupied State of Palestine, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, to ensure that necessary steps are taken to activate international protect for the Palestinian people and compel Israel, the illegal colonial occupation authority, to desist from these criminal acts;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to follow up the implementation of this Communique and submit a report thereon to the next session of the Council of Foreign Ministers.