“Recognition of the State of Palestine and support for its full UN membership are not just diplomatic acts—they are moral imperatives.” Remarks by the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the 2025 UN-OIC Conference on the Question of Jerusalem

Statement by H.E. Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha

(delivered by H.E. Samir Bakr, Assistant Secretary-General, Palestinian and Al-Quds Affairs, Organization of Islamic Cooperation)

2025 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem (Al-Quds)

 “Palestinian Oppression and Displacement in Jerusalem in the Shadow of War: A Microcosm of the Situation Throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory”

 Convened by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) And the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

 Dakar, Republic of Senegal

July 9, 2025

In the Name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy

H.E. Mr. Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Republic of Senegal,

H.E. Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, Representative of the UN, Special Representative for West Africa/United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel,

H.E. Amb. Coly Seck, Chair, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

H.E. Minister Riyad Mansour, Amb. of the State of Palestine to the United Nations

Your Excellencies,

Assalamu Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullah wa-Barakatuh (May peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you)

I would like to extend my gratitude for your participation in the 2025 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem (Al-Quds). This forum underscores the salience of Al-Quds to both the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations, affirming our unified commitment to advocating for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

I also wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Republic of Senegal for hosting this pivotal gathering and for its longstanding advocacy in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Furthermore, we acknowledge the contributions of the United Nations and its various entities, notably the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, under the leadership of H.E. Amb. Coly Seck, for their relentless dedication to advancing the just cause of Palestine.

Your Excellencies,

This symposium convenes during a time of acute crisis characterized by the ongoing crimes perpetrated by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip through genocide, starvation, and systematic displacement, aimed at rendering the territory uninhabitable. Concurrently, there is an escalation of settlement expansion, detention, and annexation policies in the West Bank, including East Al-Quds. These actions, along with attempts to assert alleged Israeli sovereignty through military incursions, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and the displacement of residents, constitute blatant violations of international humanitarian law.

Your Excellencies,

The OIC unequivocally calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, the opening of all crossings to ensure humanitarian access, and the full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip. We reject the current aid distribution mechanisms that have regrettably morphed into sites where starving civilians are targeted while awaiting or receiving humanitarian assistance.

Moreover, the OIC asserts that Al-Quds, as the capital of the State of Palestine, remains an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 1967. All Israeli policies and measures in this context lack legitimacy under international law and are a profound infringement on the political, historical, and legal rights of the Palestinian people, also contravening pertinent UN resolutions.

We stress the necessity of empowering the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to fulfill its critical role amidst the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. This requires political, financial, and legal backing for the agency and a steadfast rejection of any efforts to undermine its mandate.

We categorically oppose any schemes aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians, viewing such actions as grave violations of international law. In this regard, we support the Arab-Islamic Plan for Relief, Early Recovery, and Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Your Excellencies,

The international community’s inaction in compelling Israel, the occupying power, to adhere to international humanitarian law, respect the pronouncements of the International Court of Justice, and comply with the UN Charter and its resolutions has fostered a culture of impunity. This lack of accountability emboldens the continuation of such violations without prospects for political, legal, or moral deterrence. Thus, it is imperative for the international community to endorse a trajectory of justice and advocate for the prosecution of violators.

Additionally, the OIC emphasizes the necessity of concrete steps from the international community towards realizing the two-state solution. This includes formal recognition of the State of Palestine and supporting its bid for full UN membership. We believe that convening the United Nations Conference on the Settlement of the Palestinian Question represents a historic opportunity to initiate actionable measures that lead to a just, durable, and comprehensive peace in the region.

In conclusion, the OIC reiterates its unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, the establishment of an independent state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Al-Quds as its capital, and the right of refugees to return in accordance with United Nations Resolution 194.

Wa-Assalamu Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullah wa-Barakatuh