Gambiaj.com – (JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia) – In an extraordinary session convened by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), foreign ministers from Islamic countries will gather in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday to deliberate on the ongoing “crimes” perpetrated by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people.
This urgent meeting was initiated at the request of Tehran, according to reports from Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
The OIC’s announcement highlights several grievous incidents, including the assassination of Hamas politburo head Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, which Iran attributes to Israel. Additionally, the OIC condemns Israel’s “aggressions against the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran” and numerous alleged atrocities committed against Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
The killing of Hezbollah leader Haniyeh in Tehran has sparked Iran’s threats of revenge against Israel, which has not claimed responsibility for the attack. The assassination of Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukr in an Israeli drone strike in Beirut has sparked fears that the conflict in Gaza is turning into a wider Middle East war.
Iran claims the US bore responsibility for the assassination due to its support for Israel. Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as its new political chief, defying Israeli attempts to kill him. The conflict began on October 7 after Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted 240 during an attack on southern Israeli communities.
Representing 57 member states, the OIC positions itself as “the voice of the Muslim world” and seeks to address these issues collectively. Iran, holding Israel responsible for Haniyeh’s killing despite no formal acknowledgment from Israel, has vowed retaliation. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has promised a “harsh response” to the assassination.
The geopolitical tension extends beyond the region, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warning his G7 counterparts on Sunday about potential attacks from Iran and its ally, Hezbollah, against Israel. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden was briefed in the White House Situation Room on Monday, though the specifics regarding the timing and nature of these potential attacks remain uncertain, as reported by Axios.
As the international community watches closely, the outcomes of this OIC meeting could significantly influence the regional dynamics and the broader discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
