Following a gathering of foreign ministers at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah, the bloc released a statement holding Israel, termed as the “illegal occupying power,” fully responsible for the attack resulting in the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The OIC described the incident as a serious breach of Iran’s sovereignty.
Saudi Arabia’s deputy foreign minister, after initially remaining silent, echoed similar sentiments, as per a government statement.
Mamadou Tangara, the foreign minister for The Gambia and current OIC chair, expressed concerns that Haniyeh’s death might exacerbate the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He emphasized that the killing would amplify the Palestinian cause and highlighted the urgent need for justice and human rights for Palestinians.
Iran’s acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri, reiterated Iran’s stance on responding to Israel’s actions, citing the lack of appropriate measures by the UN Security Council against Israel. He stated that Iran might resort to its right of legitimate defense.
The US State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, called for restraint from all parties, including Iran and Israel, to avoid further escalation of the conflict. He mentioned a broad consensus among nations that escalation would worsen regional issues.
Hezbollah, Hamas’s ally in Lebanon, also vowed retaliation for Haniyeh’s death and that of its military commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut.
The OIC’s response marks another instance of the bloc addressing the conflict, following Hamas’s October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which resulted in significant casualties and hostages. Israel’s subsequent military actions in Gaza have led to a high death toll, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The OIC, along with the Arab League, previously condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, although divisions within the group were apparent. Some members proposed severe measures against Israel, but countries with formal diplomatic ties to Israel opposed such actions.
Saudi political analyst Mohammed bin Saleh al-Harbi noted that the latest OIC meeting primarily resulted in condemnation and denunciation.
