OIC vows to rebuild Gaza, condemns Israel

ANKARA (AA) - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, pledged Tuesday to increase aid to Palestinian territories, rebuild Gaza and continue international support for the cause of Palestinian people. In an emergency meeting held Tuesday in Jeddah, Saud Arabia, the executive committee of the OIC condemned "in the strongest terms" the ongoing Israeli "aggression" in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the killing of nearly 2,000 Palestinians. The meeting saw Turkey table an action plan for Palestine that emphasizes continued humanitarian aid in Gaza and a more durable ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians.
They are currently observing a three-day ceasefire that started Monday to coincide with indirect talks in Cairo.
- Action plan
In a report at the end of the meeting, the OIC stressed the territorial integrity of Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem, which were occupied by Israel following the Six-Day War in 1967.
It said that the Israeli occupation and activities in Palestinian territories are in clear violation of international law.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: "We should not forget that as long as there is no permanent peace for our Palestinian brothers and sisters based on their dignity, the Muslim world will not live in peace."
Turkey's action plan calls for, among other things, increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza and all Palestinian lands during the ceasefire and intensifying the efforts for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and for lifting blockade and all restrictions on Gaza. It also promotes cooperation between the OIC and the United Nations Human Rights Council to hold Israel to account for the loss of civilian life and destruction that its military offensive has caused in Gaza. Davutoglu added that the total aid to Palestinians by Turkish government agencies exceeded $200 million, and that Turkey would continue to receive wounded Gazans for treatment. A new 72-hour ceasefire brokered by Egypt between Palestinian groups and Israel in Gaza came into effect on Monday, following more than a month of Israeli attacks that have seen 1,944 Palestinians killed and 10,000 injured. According to Israeli figures, 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians were killed.