CAIRO, July 18, 2026 (WAFA) -- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held the 2026 International Conference on Jerusalem in Cairo under the theme, "Jerusalem: The frontline against displacement and annexation, and the key to achieving a just and lasting peace."

The conference, chaired by the committee's chairman and Senegal's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Coly Seck, brought together government officials, diplomats, religious leaders, international and regional organizations, academics and researchers.

Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ashraf Al-Awar said the conference comes at a critical time for the city, stressing that Jerusalem is the heart of the Palestinian cause and calling for practical recommendations to strengthen international protection for the city's Palestinian residents, holy sites and institutions.

He reaffirmed that East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine and said no just and lasting political solution can be achieved without ending the Israeli occupation and guaranteeing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination in line with international legitimacy and the two-state solution based on the June 4, 1967 borders.

OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs Dawwas Dawwas condemned Israeli policies in Jerusalem, including home demolitions and the seizure of Palestinian property, while calling for continued support for Palestinian institutions and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Arab League Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and the Occupied Arab Territories Ambassador Faed Mustafa said Israeli settlement expansion, forced displacement, home demolitions, land confiscation and attacks on holy sites in Jerusalem are part of a systematic policy aimed at changing the character of the city and weakening the Palestinian presence.

Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Mahmoud Omar reiterated Egypt's rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land and reaffirmed support for Palestinian rights, while Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Riyad Mansour called for the protection of Palestinian civilians and an end to Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Participants stressed that Jerusalem is facing a critical stage requiring more effective international action to protect its legal and historical status and safeguard the rights of the Palestinian people. They warned that continued unilateral Israeli measures undermine prospects for peace and stability in the region.

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