Inconclusive Meeting of OIC
After the martyrdom of more than 11,000 civilians and unimaginable destruction in the Israeli air and ground attacks on the oppressed Muslims who have been besieged for years in Gaza, the joint extraordinary meeting of the Organization of 57 Muslim countries and the Arab League was held in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday. It was expected that the Muslim heads of state would decide on effective measures to force Israel to an immediate ceasefire. However, according to the details that have come to light, in the meeting, the condemnation of the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and the immediate solution to the problem was only verbally demanded, while avoiding any decision regarding any kind of economic or political action against Israel adopted.
The meeting chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the future strategy, but all the leaders failed to make any decision regarding any kind of response against the Israeli actions. The declaration of the meeting, while rejecting Israel’s position that it is attacking Gaza in self-defense, demanded that the UN Security Council adopt a decisive resolution to stop Israel’s aggression. The Saudi Crown Prince blamed Israel for the situation and blamed the Security Council for its failure to stop serious human rights violations in Gaza, calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the end of illegal Israeli settlements and the Palestinian Authority. He stressed on the restoration of people’s rights.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Gaza an integral part of the Palestinian state. Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi expressed the need for the unity of the Islamic world to prevent Israel from continuing the worst crimes in human history. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the Israeli atrocities and called for a world peace conference to find a peaceful solution to the problem. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, urged the international community to stop Israel from aggression and take immediate steps to end the Palestinian crisis.
Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar also called on the international community to ensure an immediate unconditional ceasefire, an end to the siege of Gaza and uninterrupted delivery of aid to the people of Gaza. As if all the participants of the meeting demanded from the international community to save the oppressed people of Gaza from Israeli brutality, but the question is that this organization of 57 countries, rich in natural resources and manpower, is reluctant to take any practical action. Why is that?
If not military, at least economic, political and diplomatic measures should be taken against Israel, while for a two-state solution, a joint struggle can be made by the OIC and the Arab League in the United Nations and to smooth the international public opinion about it. An effective campaign can be conducted using all available means. By stopping the use of the dollar in mutual trade, Muslim countries can make Israel’s patron America difficult and persuade it to take decisive action for an immediate ceasefire and a diplomatic solution in Gaza.
At the same time, in order to make the voice of Muslim countries effective in world affairs, the planning of quality development through mutual cooperation in economy, education, defense, science and technology and other areas of life and practical progress in this direction should also be paid attention to, which is included in the objectives of the OIC, but in this regard, despite the passage of more than half a century, no substantial results have come out.