Assertion by 57-nation bloc says it ‘holds Israel, the unlawful occupying energy, absolutely accountable for the heinous assault’.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has blamed Israel for the assault that killed Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh final week in Iran, which has vowed to retaliate.
A press release issued after a unprecedented assembly of the 57-member bloc on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia stated it “holds Israel, the unlawful occupying energy, absolutely accountable for this heinous assault”, which it described as “a critical infringement” of Iran’s sovereignty.
The Gambia’s International Minister Mamadou Tangara, whose nation chairs OIC, stated Haniyeh’s “heinous” assassination and the continued struggle in Gaza may result in a regional battle.
“The aggression and violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the assassination of a political chief on its soil is an act that can’t be considered in isolation,” Tangara stated.
“This heinous act serves solely to escalate the present tensions doubtlessly resulting in a wider battle that might contain the whole area.”
Iran and Palestine had known as for the OIC assembly within the Saudi coastal metropolis of Jeddah. The bloc describes itself because the collective voice of the Muslim world.
Host Saudi Arabia additionally stated Haniyeh’s assassination was a “blatant violation” of Iran’s sovereignty.
The dominion’s deputy international minister, Waleed al-Khereiji, stated his nation rejects “any violation of the sovereignty of states or interference within the inner affairs of any nation”.
Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s killing in Tehran final week, however the Israeli authorities has not confirmed or denied accountability.
Iran has promised to retaliate, threatening “harsh punishment” for Israel. However america and different Western international locations have been calling for de-escalation.
On Wednesday, US State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller stated a number of OIC members agree with Washington that escalation would solely exacerbate the persevering with crises within the area.
“We’d hope that at that OIC assembly the identical factor occurs that we’ve been attempting to effectuate all through the final week, which is that every one events which have a relationship with Iran impress upon Iran – the identical manner that we’ve been impressing upon the federal government of Israel – that they shouldn’t take any steps to escalate the battle,” Miller stated.
He added that regional escalation may jeopardise the prospects of a ceasefire settlement in Gaza.
“The message that we’re sending to everyone seems to be: Look, that is clearly a really delicate time for the area. Tensions are excessive. We’re within the remaining phases – hopefully – of a ceasefire deal,” Miller stated.
“And escalation has the potential to make each drawback the area faces worse.”
Haniyeh, who was changed by Hamas’s Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, was main ceasefire talks for the Palestinian group, however the US has not condemned his assassination.
Late in Could, US President Joe Biden introduced what he stated was a multiphased Israeli proposal to finish the struggle that may see the discharge of Israeli captives in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel resulting in an “enduring” ceasefire.
Washington, which has vetoed three United Nations Safety Council measures that may have known as for a ceasefire in Gaza, initially blamed Hamas squarely for failure to succeed in an settlement.
However on Wednesday, Miller stated further points and details on the bottom have come into play since Could, and there are “remaining points” that each Hamas and Israel nonetheless have to comply with. He burdened that the excellent disagreements are “bridgeable”.
In his tackle on the OIC assembly, the Gambia’s Tangara urged for “sturdy peace that addresses the basis causes of the [Israeli-Palestinian] battle”.
“It’s essential for the worldwide neighborhood to return collectively to make sure that humanitarian assist reaches these in want and to work in the direction of a sustainable political answer that promote peace and safety for all individuals within the area,” Tangara stated.
