ISTANBUL, June 21, 2025 (WAFA) – Palestine's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, issued an urgent call today for member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to unite in their efforts to end the ongoing Israeli occupation and halt the ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at the opening session of the 51st meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers held in Istanbul, Mansour emphasized that the Palestinian people are facing an unprecedented existential crisis. He pointed to ongoing Israeli military attacks, blockade, starvation, forced displacement, and widespread killings as crimes that must be met with a unified and resolute stance from the Islamic world.
“We cannot let this year pass without doing everything in our power to stop this brutal war and end the historical injustice inflicted on our people,” Mansour declared. He called for an immediate ceasefire and the urgent lifting of what he described as the "criminal blockade" on Gaza, citing these measures as vital humanitarian necessities.
Mansour detailed the extensive destruction in Gaza, including tens of thousands of casualties among civilians — especially children and women — and the systematic targeting of infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and places of worship. He warned that Gaza is becoming increasingly uninhabitable.
He underscored the need to prioritize the protection of civilian lives, stop all attempts at forced displacement, and ensure the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid. He also called for the immediate implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
“The international community must go beyond mere condemnation,” he said. “It must act to bring an end to the illegal occupation and dismantle the colonial settlement regime.”
Mansour stressed that 2025 should be the year that marks the end of the Israeli occupation and the realization of justice for the Palestinian people. He voiced strong support for the international peace conference proposed by Saudi Arabia and France, aimed at achieving a two-state solution based on the full withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
He expressed gratitude to both Saudi Arabia and France for their efforts, and extended thanks — on behalf of the Palestinian people and leadership — to Turkey’s government, people, and President for their steadfast support of Palestine and its rights.
He called on the OIC to remain at the forefront of the defense of international law and the rights of peoples, stressing the need to hold Israel accountable for its crimes. “The organization’s position on Palestine is firm, rooted in justice and international law,” he affirmed.
He stressed that while the OIC's historical support for Palestine is deeply valued, it is now more critical and urgent than ever.
On the sidelines of the conference, Mansour held several bilateral meetings with representatives from allied and friendly nations.
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