Islamic countries seek sanctions, arms embargo against Israel

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) – Adopting a strong resolution in Jeddah, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday called for sanctions, an arms embargo, and threatened to move at the UN to suspend Israel’s membership if the war and famine in Gaza continue.

The OIC foreign ministers’ council, meeting in an extraordinary session at the request of Palestine, Türkiye and Iran, said it will use the September UN General Assembly session in New York to push for punitive measures.

Member states also pledged to coordinate at the Security Council to demand an emergency session on Gaza.

The meeting urged the UN Security Council to convene a special session next month and act under Chapter VII to halt the war. It also mandated OIC states that are parties to the Rome Statute to enforce ICC arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials.

The 57-member bloc accused Israel of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It said more than 62,500 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including 12,400 women and 18,500 children. At least 160,000 have been injured and more than 1.5 million displaced.

The resolution demanded an immediate cease-fire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the blockade. It called for the unconditional opening of all crossings to allow food, fuel and medicine into the enclave.

The ministers blamed Israel for destroying food supply chains, health infrastructure and water systems, accusing it of deliberately using starvation as a weapon of war.

The OIC said famine in Gaza is man-made and officially confirmed by the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system. It urged the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli officials for crimes of starvation and siege.

The ministers condemned Israel’s rejection of cease-fire mediation by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. They said Palestinian groups had already agreed to a recent proposal that could have led to prisoner exchanges and a truce. The resolution declared Israel fully responsible for prolonging the war and worsening the humanitarian crisis.

The OIC also denounced the assassination of journalists, restrictions on international media and repeated attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites. It warned that Israel’s approval of thousands of new settlement units in East Jerusalem undermines the two-state solution.

Demands and action plan

As part of its action plan, the OIC urged member states to suspend arms exports to Israel, impose sanctions, review diplomatic ties and support enforcement of ICC arrest warrants. It called for recognition of Palestine by all countries and welcomed governments that plan to extend recognition in September.

The bloc insisted that peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. The Secretary-General was directed to monitor compliance and report to the next ministerial session.

Among the key actions, the OIC:

• Demanded an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, with full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
• Called for the unconditional lifting of the blockade and urgent opening of all crossings for food, medicine, and fuel.
• Urged the UN Security Council to convene a special session next month and act under Chapter VII to halt the war.
• Mandated OIC states that are parties to the Rome Statute to enforce ICC arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials.
• Urged all countries to suspend arms and dual-use exports to Israel, review diplomatic ties, and impose targeted sanctions.
• Announced support for an upcoming Cairo reconstruction conference, tied to an Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza’s relief and rebuilding.

The resolution also condemned Israel’s rejection of recent mediation by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States that Palestinian factions had already accepted, accusing Tel Aviv of prolonging war to derail prisoner exchanges and block aid.

Delegates blasted Israel’s “Greater Israel” rhetoric, fresh settlement approvals, and assaults on Al-Aqsa and Ibrahimi mosques. They highlighted the assassination of 238 journalists and restrictions on media as part of an effort to “cover up daily crimes.”

The Council reaffirmed that only a two-state solution on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital, can deliver a just and lasting peace. The Secretary-General was tasked with monitoring compliance and reporting back to the next ministerial session.