RAMALLAH, November 5, 2026 (WAFA) – The African Union Commission, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States have called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and an immediate, unconditional Israeli withdrawal, stressing the need to establish an independent, sovereign Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
The call came in a joint statement issued on Thursday following a consultative meeting on developments in the Palestinian cause, held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the African Union Commission in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The meeting brought together senior delegations from the African Union Commission and the secretariats-general of the OIC and the Arab League, as part of the trilateral coordination mechanism established to support the Palestinian cause.
The three organizations reaffirmed their commitment to advancing practical steps toward implementing the two-state solution and continuing efforts to implement relevant resolutions adopted by the United Nations and other international organizations, as well as the 2025 New York Declaration. They called on member states to take the necessary measures to ensure that the Palestinian people can exercise their inalienable rights to independence, return, self-determination and the establishment of their own state.
They also called for the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement in a manner that would lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities, an end to the Israeli blockade and occupation, and the reopening of all crossings to ensure the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. They further stressed the need to begin reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip while ensuring territorial contiguity and integrity.
The statement rejected any Israeli attempts or plans to forcibly displace the Palestinian people, whether from the Gaza Strip or the West Bank, describing such actions as war crimes and flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, as well as a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.
The organizations urged countries that have relocated their diplomatic missions to occupied Jerusalem, or announced plans to do so, to reverse these unlawful decisions and refrain from taking any measures that could entrench the Israeli occupation, recognize illegal annexation measures or endorse attempts to impose alleged sovereignty over the city.
The statement also reaffirmed the illegality of all Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory and called for their dismantlement. It warned of escalating systematic crimes, violence and terrorism perpetrated by extremist settlers, under the protection and with the backing of Israeli occupation forces, against the Palestinian people, their property, land and holy sites.
It called on the international community to put an end to these crimes and hold those responsible accountable under international criminal law. It also called for the disarmament of settlers in implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 904 of 1994. The organizations welcomed relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Human Rights Council, including the database of business enterprises involved in illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and urged states to take the necessary legal and economic measures.
The three organizations reiterated that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. They rejected all unlawful Israeli decisions and measures aimed at altering the city's political, geographic and demographic status, and called for the preservation of the historical and legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque.
They also condemned the crimes of enforced disappearance, extrajudicial executions, ill-treatment and torture, as well as all violations against Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. They called on the Israeli occupation authorities to disclose their whereabouts and ensure the protection of their rights in accordance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The statement urged the international community to take all necessary steps to ensure that Israeli occupation forces are held accountable before national and international courts, particularly the International Court of Justice, to end impunity and provide international protection for the Palestinian people.
The organizations affirmed that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. They stressed the need to provide all forms of support to the Government of the State of Palestine so that it can fully assume its responsibilities throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, including the Gaza Strip, which they described as an integral part of the State of Palestine. They also called on Israel to immediately and fully release all Palestinian tax revenues it has unlawfully withheld.
The statement welcomed the decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to add the archaeological site of Sebastia to the List of World Heritage in Danger, saying it reflects Palestine's civilizational, historical and cultural significance. It called on UNESCO to continue fulfilling its responsibilities in protecting Palestinian culture and heritage, as well as Islamic and Christian holy sites.
The three organizations reaffirmed their full support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), condemning unlawful Israeli policies and measures targeting the agency's mandate and its vital role in serving Palestinian refugees and protecting their rights until a solution to their cause is reached in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
They also commended the positions and decisions of countries that have recognized the State of Palestine, urging other states to follow suit and support its full membership in the United Nations, describing this as a key pillar for implementing the two-state solution and achieving peace, stability and security in the region.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the three organizations' commitment to continuing their joint efforts through the trilateral coordination mechanism in support of the Palestinian cause, with the aim of reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive solution.
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