Escalation in Gaza: Saudi Arabia calls for urgent OIC ministerial meeting

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday called for an urgent ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the escalation in Gaza.

Riyadh called for an emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) following the escalation in Gaza.

The OIC renewed its condemnation of the Israeli military and its aggression against Gaza.

The OIC said it held Israel responsible for ignoring international resolutions.

The UN said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have left their homes — the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000.

Earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman telephoned Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the escalating situation in Gaza.

The Saudi crown prince assured Abbas that the KSA supports Palestinians’ struggle for legitimate rights and long-lasting peace in the region.

The crown prince reiterated that Saudi Arabia is in communication with all international and regional parties to exert all efforts to stop the ongoing escalation and prevent its expansion in the region, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to international humanitarian law and not targeting civilians.

After discussing the issue with the Palestine president, Mohammad bin Salman also telephoned Egypt’s president and Jordan’s Shah Abdullah to devise a strategy to defuse the tension.

On the other hand, an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) failed to take any action to deal with the raging Middle East conflict sparked off by a surprise Palestinian fighters’ assault on Israeli border towns as Israel responded with deadly air strikes on Gaza, raising the death toll to 1,100.

According to diplomats, the United States demanded that the 15 Council members issue a statement strongly condemning “these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas,” but not all members agreed with the call.

Unanimity is needed for the U.N. Security Council to produce a statement.