OIC concerned by worsening human rights situation in Palestine

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara and other political leaders attend the 5th AU-EU Summit in Abidjan, on Wednesday. (AFP)

JEDDAH: The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the IPHRC underlined the urgency of ending Israel’s occupation.
“While the world observes this important day, Gaza is still under blockade, and 61 percent of the West Bank is under total occupation and marred by Israeli illegal settlements,” it said.
The IPHRC warned against continued Israeli attempts to Judaize Jerusalem at the expense of the city’s Muslim and Christian identity.
It stressed the identity of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a uniquely Islamic holy site, and recalled all UNESCO decisions denying any Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem’s Old City.
The IPHRC condemned the repeated closures of Al-Aqsa Mosque as illegal under international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
It said the closures have “the potential to inflame the religious sentiments of not just Palestinians but Muslims all over the world.”
The IPHRC urged the international community to use all appropriate means to force Israel to end its violations of Palestinians’ human rights, and expressed regret at the UN Security Council’s inaction in this regard.
The commission expressed disappointment at the recent celebrations held by Britain to mark the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, which vowed to establish a Jewish “national home” in Palestine.
The commission welcomed UN General Assembly resolutions on the illegality of Israeli settlement activity. It also welcomed the recent Palestinian reconciliation agreement.
The IPHRC urged member states to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against products from Israeli settlements.
It urged OIC members to take the lead in providing political and economic support at all levels to the Palestinian people in their struggle for an independent, viable and contiguous state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of refugees to return to their homes, as per international law and UN resolutions.