[News Terms] 'Islamic Cooperation Organization' and 'Arab League' Demand Ceasefire Between Israel and Palestine

Saudi Arabia and Iran, long considered 'arch-enemies' in the Middle East, have for the first time in a while spoken with one voice. They directed their statements against Israel, which continues airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in Palestine.

According to foreign media reports, on the 11th (local time), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League (AL) held a joint summit meeting in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right in the photo) and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi are attending the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) special summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the 11th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

The OIC is the second-largest international organization after the United Nations (UN) in terms of member countries. It has 57 member states, mostly Muslim-majority countries. Its members are spread across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, as well as Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Among the OIC members, the 22 Arab countries form the Arab League (AL), which also represents the Islamic world. Although these two organizations usually hold separate meetings, due to the worsening war between Israel and Hamas in Palestine, they were unusually convened simultaneously this time.

They adopted a joint resolution condemning Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip as a war crime. They also demanded that Israel immediately allow humanitarian aid convoys, including food, medicine, and fuel, to enter Gaza, calling on Israel to stop the barbaric and brutal massacre.

Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, urged Israel to "end the siege of the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid." He held the occupying authorities responsible for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people, blaming Israel for the war, while also repeatedly demanding that Hamas release the hostages.

Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), stated, "Our people are facing a war of genocide, and the West Bank and Jerusalem are also under daily attack," and called on "the United States to stop Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip."

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, who has been mediating hostage release and ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, criticized, "How long will the international community allow Israel to reign above international law?"

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized, "The only solution is to resist Israel's oppression until a Palestinian state is established from the Jordan River to the sea (Mediterranean)." This visit marked the first time in 10 years that the Iranian leader visited Saudi Arabia. After Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shia religious leader on charges of leading anti-government protests and terrorism in 2016, the two countries severed diplomatic ties, which were only restored in March this year. President Raisi said, "If the Zionist regime (Israel) continues its war crimes and the United States does not stop this unequal war, Islamic countries must help arm the Palestinian people to fight the occupying forces." He particularly called on Islamic countries to stop selling oil to Israel, designate the Israeli military that attacked Gaza as a terrorist group, and bring Israelis and Americans involved in the Gaza attacks to international courts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.