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NEW YORK, (MANEND NEWS): Ambassadors of member states of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) unequivocally condemned the recent use of “brutal” force by the Israeli forces against
Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and vowed to draw world community’s attention to the atrocities.
At the an urgent meeting, held in New York following the attacks against worshippers around the Al-
Aqsa Mosque as also the escalation of clashes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and Gaza, the OIC
ambassadors called the assaults against Palestinians against all humanitarian norms and human rights
laws, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. Alarms were particularly raised that residents of Sheikh
Jarrah who lived in that neighborhood for decades were facing the threat of forced eviction, diplomats
said. Tensions in East Jerusalem have soared recently, with Palestinians complaining about oppressive
Israeli restrictions during Ramadan.
The violence on last Friday, described as some of the worst seen in Jerusalem for many years, saw some
300 Palestinians injured in clashes following Israeli assault in the Haram Al-Sharif compound. On
Saturday and Sunday clashes continued in East Jerusalem, ahead of a planned march by an Israeli group
through the Old City.
The OIC envoys prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, and reiterated steadfast support to the
Palestinian cause, and once again urged the international community to take prompt action to protect
the Palestinian people.
In this regard, Pakistan’s United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram’s proposal for issuing a joint
statement deploring the Israeli actions against Palestinians was unanimously endorsed by the OIC
meeting. Also approved was a proposal from Ambassadors of Turkey and Saudi Arabia for mobilizing
international support to convene a special session of the General Assembly on the situation. A core
group of member states, which includes Pakistan, has been established to take lead on this issue at the
UN.
In his remarks, Ambassador Akram underscored the need for “unequivocal and strong” solidarity with all
Palestinians. He also underscored the need for focusing international community’s attention to the
Israeli violations of the historic and legal status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and to stop these
crimes against the Palestinian people and Muslim holy sites and to ensure the protection they need
under international law.
Munir Akram reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to a two-state solution in accordance with
the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions, with the pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the
capital of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State.
On Sunday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other senior UN officials expressed their deep
concern over confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in East Jerusalem.
The Spokesperson of Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement Sunday evening that Israeli
authorities must exercise maximum restraint and respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. “All
leaders have a responsibility to act against extremists and to speak out against all acts of violence and
incitement”, the statement said. “The Secretary-General reiterates his commitment, including through
the Middle East Quartet, to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict on the basis of
relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements” On Monday in New
York, the Security Council meet behind closed doors to receive a briefing from the UN Special
Coordinator for the region, Tor Wennesland.