Jakarta Declaration: OKI Urges Strict Action Against Israel And Supports Free Palestine

Palestinian Flag (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The 19th Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) Parliamentary Conference resulted in a resolution called the Jakarta Declaration. One of the resolution points made by the OKI Parliamentary Union forum is urging countries to impose sanctions on Israel to ensure independence for Palestine.

The ratification of the resolution took place at the closing ceremony of the 19th PUIC Conference led by the Chairperson of the Indonesian Parliament Puan Maharani at the DPR RI Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, May 15, afternoon. As Chair of the OKI Parliament forum for this year, the DPR hosted the 19th PUIC Conference.

Through the Jakarta Declaration, PUIC members gave many notes, encouragement, and pressure to defend Palestine, which the Israeli military continues to attack. One of the points in the Jakarta Declaration is the demand for a full cessation of the Israeli military offensive against Palestine and fully support Palestinian independence.

Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Mardani Ali Sera, as a representative of the host, read out the Jakarta Declaration at the closing session of the 19th PUIC Conference.

"We are aware of the fact that the world and its global order are at a critical point as war and conflict continue to increase, while the values of cooperation and unity are gradually eroding," reads the Jakarta Declaration read by Mardani.

Mardani said that all OIC country delegates expressed their commitment to the goals listed in the Association of Parliamentary Statutes for OIC Member States. All delegates also expressed respect for the goals and principles of the OIC Charter and the United Nations Charter and international law.

The Jakarta Declaration also agreed on several things, including calling on all countries, institutions, and international organizations to comply with international legitimacy resolutions regarding the occupied city of Al-Quds as an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories of 1967 and as the capital of the Palestinian State.

PUIC also demanded the immediate release of Palestinian prisoners who were illegally and arbitrarily imprisoned by Israel, especially women and children.

"In general, there are 17 recommendations. First, everyone agrees that Palestine must be independent. Second, everyone agrees that a ceasefire and the opening of the blockade must be implemented immediately and asks all PUIC members to work through various existing channels. Third, asking for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli zionists," explained Mardani after the closing of the PUIC Conference.

The PUIC resolution also warns of Israel's potential malicious intent to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, including the remaining Gaza region, on the pretext of "taking" reasons. The PUIC members also through the Declaration of Jakarta firmly rejected all calls to displacate Palestinians or annex Palestinian soil.

Not only that, Jakarta Declaration also encourages the Parliament of PUIC Members and the global community to advocate for its government to carry out integrated diplomatic efforts in the international political order, including at the United Nations and other multilateral forums, to suppress all countries imposing sanctions and isolate Israel as a power of occupation.

The Jakarta declaration also contains support for the results of the International Court or ICJ (International Court of Justice) which decides that Israel's occupation of Palestine violates the law.

Even the OKI Parliamentary Union through this declaration also urges the International Criminal Court (ICC) to complete an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity by Israeli officials, as well as continue to provide humanitarian assistance including through UNRWA.

As is known, the ICC since 2024 has issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza, Palestine.

"Jakarta Declaration supports the decision of the ICJ and ICC so that Netanyahu and his defense ministers are prosecuted," said Mardani.

Through the Jakarta Declaration, PUIC also fully supports the role of Palestine as an independent and sovereign country in various multilateral forums and international efforts to advance the two-state solution built above the momentum of the Global Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solutions and the upcoming High International Conference.

Included in the UN agenda, which has scheduled a high-level conference on a two-state solution to be held in June 2025 in New York, United States. Mardani said members of PUIC were asked for one vote to provide support for Palestine.

"In June there will be an agenda of The two states solutions implementation, conference at the UN Headquarters. We are all asked to unite," said the legislator from the DKI Jakarta I electoral district.

Apart from the Palestinian issue, the Jakarta Declaration also called on the Parliament of PUIC Members to actively fight Islamophobia, xenophobia, intolerance, and all forms of discrimination by exemplifying the values of Islamic teachings as rahmatan lil-alamin, promoting dialogue between religions and cultures and upholding the dignity and rights of all mankind.

The Jakarta Declaration also supports peaceful resolutions to conflicts in various regions, particularly those that have an impact on the Muslim community, including on the conflict between Pakistan and India.

According to Mardani, the theme spirit of the 19th PUIC Conference, namely Good Governance and Strong Institutions as Pillars of Resilience, was also stated in the Jakarta Declaration where the Jakarta Declaration recommended that the Member Parliament continue to increase national capacity in responding to the demands and aspirations of its people.

"This is related to the quality, transparency, and accessibility of public services through parliamentary monitoring and advice mechanisms, as well as integrating meaningful public participation and accountability in the legislative decision-making process," explained Mardani.

The Jakarta Declaration also reaffirmed the central role of good governance, accountability, transparency, and rule of law as the main foundation in building strong and resilient institutions, protecting people's interests, rights, and welfare through legislation that promote these values and principles.