OIC Calls For Urgent International Action To Save Lives Of Besieged Civilians In Gaza

JEDDAH, Aug 25 (Bernama-QNA) -- The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has emphasised that the declaration of famine serves as a critical alert regarding a multidimensional humanitarian, political, and legal crisis that necessitates immediate and exceptional international intervention, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

The OIC has called for the implementation of all available international emergency protocols to facilitate the rapid, secure, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and food assistance to civilians adversely affected in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the OIC insisted on the necessity of referring the situation concerning the blockade-induced crimes and orchestrated starvation perpetrated by the Israeli occupation, along with the resultant famine in Gaza, to the International Criminal Court.

The OIC urged the global community to embrace its legal, political, and moral obligations by taking robust actions, which include imposing sanctions on Israel - the occupying power, halting the supply or transfer of military equipment to it, and bolstering international justice mechanisms to ensure accountability for its violations while adhering to international humanitarian law.

Furthermore, the OIC has reiterated its call for the international community to pressure the Israeli entity to immediately cease all forms of aggression and its siege of the Gaza Strip.

This includes opening all border crossings, ensuring a continuous and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid, and enabling the operations of United Nations agencies such as UNRWA alongside other international organisations, unhindered, to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of the Gaza Strip.

The OIC stressed the need for the international community to act responsibly regarding the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, which stated that famine was spreading across the Gaza Strip.

The OIC held the Israeli entity fully responsible for this crime and its repercussions, considering it a direct result of its crimes of starvation, illegal siege, systematic destruction, and denial of aid access, all of which constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

-- BERNAMA-QNA