OIC urges UN Council to end occupation beyond Gaza ceasefire

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has urged the United Nations Security Council to advance beyond the current Gaza ceasefire toward a comprehensive resolution that terminates Israel's prolonged occupation of Palestinian lands. Addressing the Council's open debate on Middle Eastern affairs, Turkish Permanent Representative to the UN Ahmet Yildiz delivered a forceful message on behalf of the 57-member Islamic bloc, emphasizing that sustainable regional stability cannot emerge while military occupation persists.

While acknowledging the humanitarian significance of the truce agreement and the impending launch of its second phase under Resolution 2803, Yildiz stressed that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and surrounding occupied territories continues unabated. The Palestinian population remains subjected to severe hardships and systematic suffering stemming from what the OIC characterized as an illegal occupation regime that violates fundamental principles of international law.

Surge in settler violence and territorial expansion condemned

The Islamic organization highlighted alarming patterns of aggression against civilian populations throughout Gaza and the West Bank, including sacred sites in Jerusalem. According to the Turkish envoy, coordinated assaults perpetrated by Israeli settlers and military forces have intensified in both frequency and severity, targeting defenseless Palestinian communities with increasing brutality.

Particular concern was raised regarding recent Israeli administrative decisions authorizing additional colonial settlement construction across Palestinian territory. These expansionist policies, condemned as flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, further diminish prospects for territorial integrity and self-determination while consolidating foreign control over indigenous lands.

Demands for withdrawal from Golan and Syrian territory

Beyond the Palestinian territories, the OIC reaffirmed its longstanding position that durable peace necessitates Israel's complete evacuation from all Arab territories seized by force. This encompasses the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, where Israeli presence contravenes Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, and 497. The organization specifically denounced military incursions into Syrian sovereign territory initiated since December 8, 2024, identifying these operations as breaches of the UN Charter and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

The Islamic bloc emphasized that such territorial violations undermine regional security frameworks and perpetuate cycles of conflict that threaten neighboring states. Compliance with established international resolutions remains non-negotiable for any viable peace architecture, the statement underscored.

Lebanon ceasefire welcomed amid peacekeeper attacks

While criticizing Israeli actions elsewhere, the OIC expressed support for the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, endorsing the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, the organization voiced grave concern regarding assaults against United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon personnel and facilities, extending formal condolences to Indonesia and France for peacekeepers killed during enforcement operations.

These attacks against international peacekeeping personnel represent serious transgressions against the UN presence and the protective mandates established to buffer conflicts between hostile parties.

Regional escalation risks and diplomatic solutions

Speaking independently as Turkey's representative, Yildiz cautioned that Israel's persistent disregard for military principles and humanitarian standards, coupled with guaranteed impunity, demands immediate Security Council intervention. He further warned that deteriorating relations involving Iran present substantial threats to international commerce, energy supplies, and food security across global markets.

Ankara explicitly endorsed ongoing diplomatic initiatives between Washington and Tehran, alongside regional mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation. The Turkish diplomat concluded that decisive multilateral action has become essential to prevent further destabilization and enforce compliance with binding international resolutions.