The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Saturday strongly condemned the ongoing barbaric Israeli assault on the Palestinian people in Gaza, which it said, is a blatant violation of international law and a crime against humanity. Addressing a press conference at the end of a two-session meeting here, Ekmaleddin Ihsanoglu, OIC Secretary General, urged the international community to act immediately to end the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and secure an immediate ceasefire. The world community, he said, must also compel Israel to lift its oppressive blockade of the impoverished strip. The first session of the OIC meeting saw all ambassadors from OIC countries strongly blasting the barbaric Israeli assault on Gaza. The second session of the meeting was taken up by foreign ministers from the OIC countries. The conference expressed its dismay over the inability of the UN Security Council to take steps for calling for a ceasefire and lifting the embargo on Gaza. The meeting called for the deployment of an international monitoring mission under the UN umbrella to deescalate the conflict and stabilize the situation. Welcoming the opening of the Rafah border crossing by Egypt for humanitarian purposes, the OIC set up a four-member executive committee consisting of Senegal, Turkey, Uganda and Libya to extend all possible assistance to the Palestinians through the border under Egypt's supervision. The OIC also called on the Palestinian factions to end their differences and achieve unity among their ranks. It asked the Arab League, and other international organizations to request the convening of a special Security Council meeting to adopt a resolution asking Israel to immediately stop its aggression. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, Foreign Minister of Senegal, who chaired Saturday's session, said that the UN Security Council should immediately order a ceasefire. Gadio also called upon Hamas and Fatah to immediately reconcile. Dr. Mustafa Bargaroodi, a permanent member and Ambassador to the OIC from Iran, said: “We have talked much but this is the time for action to provide immediate relief to the Palestinians.” “Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the ministerial meeting falls short of OIC capacity to deal with the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza Strip,” he said. Nawabzada Malik Emad, Pakistani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said his country strongly condemns the Israeli aggression that is against humanity and fully supports the Palestinians fighting Israel's policy of oppression. Isaac Musumba, Foreign Minister of Uganda and Chairman of the emergency meeting of the OIC Executive Committee, urged all OIC members to do everything possible to stop this senseless killing. Ali Babacan, Foreign Minister of Turkey, urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and providing urgent medical facilities to the Palestinians there. Dr. Rais Yatim, Malaysian Foreign Minister, hoped that “this gathering will make a vital difference and change the situation on the ground through concerted and focused efforts on OIC's part but if the United States continues to turn a blind eye to the violation by Israel all the efforts would be futile.” The final communiqué of the meeting recalled the principles and objectives of the OIC charter in regards to Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Shareef. It recognized the resilience of the Palestinian people in the face of Israeli aggression, affirming support for the just cause to regain their national rights and establishment of state of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its capital. Ihsanoglu also discussed the situation in Somalia. He stressed that Somalia stands at a perilous crossroads that requires the unwavering solidarity of the OIC.
