OKI Says Israel Is Responsible For The Murder Of Ismail Haniyeh And Iran's Sovereignty Violations

OKI Meeting in Jeddah August 7, 2024. (Source: OKI)

JAKARTA - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) blamed Israel for the attack that killed Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, increasing tension in the Middle East region.

A statement issued after an extraordinary meeting of the 57-member bloc on Wednesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia said, "OKI considers Israel, an illegal occupation force, fully responsible for this heinous attack", which it describes as "serious violation" of Iran's sovereignty, reported by Al Jazeera, August 8.

Gambia Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara, whose country heads the OIC, said Haniyeh's "haraminal" killings and ongoing wars in Gaza could lead to regional conflicts.

"The aggressiveness and violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the assassination of a political leader in its territory is an act that cannot be seen separately," said Foreign Minister Tangara.

"This heinous act will only increase existing tensions and have the potential to cause wider conflicts that can involve the entire region," he continued.

In his speech at the OKI meeting, Foreign Minister Tangara urged "continuous peace that overcomes the root causes of conflict (Israel-Palestinian)".

#OIC Secretary-General denounces #Israeli war #crimes, genocide, and aggression that threaten regional #peace and #securityhttps://t.co/wRKANq4ewM pic.twitter.com/8ZirfDYDaJ

— OIC (@OIC_OCI) August 7, 2024

#OIC Secretary-General denounces #Israeli war #crimes, genocide, and aggression that threaten regional #peace and #securityhttps://t.co/wRKANq4ewM pic.twitter.com/8ZirfDYDaJ

"It is very important for the global community to unite to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need and works towards sustainable political solutions that encourage peace and security for everyone in the region," said Foreign Minister Tangara.

It is known that the OIC meeting this time was requested by Iran and Palestine.

Iran and Palestine have called for an OIC meeting in the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The bloc describes itself as the collective voice of the Muslim world.

Meanwhile, the host of Saudi Arabia said Haniyeh's murder was a "discrete violation" of Iran's sovereignty.

Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed al-Khereiji said his country rejected "any violation of state sovereignty or interference in the internal affairs of any country".

Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran last week, but the Israeli government has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

Tehran itself has pledged to retaliate, threatening "hard punishment" for Israel. However, the United States and other Western countries have called for de-escalation.

On Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said some OIC members agreed with Washington that escalation would only exacerbate the ongoing crisis in the region.

"We hope that at the OIC meeting the same thing we have tried to achieve over the past week, namely that all parties with ties to Iran are urging Iran in the same way we have conveyed to the Israeli government that they should not take any steps to escalate the conflict," Miller said.

He added that regional escalation could jeopardize the prospects for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

The Hamas group itself announced Yahya Sinwar as the new Head of Political Bureau replacing the late Haniyeh.