Organisation of Islamic Cooperation urges global action against Israel’s settlement expansion in Jerusalem

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), headquartered in Jeddah, has strongly condemned Israel’s recent approval of 356 new settlement units in occupied Jerusalem.

The organisation described the move as a war crime under international law and a blatant violation of United Nations resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 2334 and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the OIC expressed deep concern over Israel’s continued settlement expansion, which it said undermines efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.

The OIC’s General Secretariat also warned of the growing danger posed by extremist settler groups, whose acts of violence and terrorism against Palestinians have continued to escalate.

According to the statement, many of these violent acts are carried out under the protection and cover of Israeli occupation forces, creating an atmosphere of impunity and fear across the occupied West Bank.

The organisation urged the international community to assume its responsibilities and take urgent, concrete action to halt Israel’s violations and to protect the rights of the Palestinian people.

It further called for decisive measures to hold the perpetrators accountable for crimes committed against Palestinians, their land, and their property.

Earlier, Israeli authorities had announced two new tenders for the construction of a 356-unit neighbourhood in the Geva Binyamin settlement, also known as Adam, located on Palestinian land northeast of Jerusalem.

Source: Middle East Monitor