OIC, Arab countries condemns Israeli bombing of Qatari headquarters in Gaza

JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the bombing of the Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip’s headquarters by the Israeli defence forces.

It described the attack as part of ongoing military aggression targeting Palestinian civilians and civilian properties including hospitals, schools, universities, houses of worship, residential homes, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, a statement issued from OIC Secretariat in Jeddah said.

“The OIC renews its call to the international community to step in and compel Israel, the occupying power, to abide by international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations, the most recent of which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 26 October 2023 demanding protection for civilians, civilian properties, those delivering humanitarian assistance as well as assets and facilities. It also called for the immediate, safe, sustainable, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” the statement further said.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt and Jordan also condemned the Israeli airstrikes on the headquarters of the committee, which is responsible for Gaza’s reconstruction.

Earlier the Qatari Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli bombing, labeling it as “blatant aggression.” Qatar condemned the attack, considering it an extension of the occupation’s policy of targeting civilians, hospitals and refugee shelters. Qatar also called on Israel to “stop providing misleading justifications and information for these attacks.”

The Saudi Foreign Ministry in its statement condemned the “blatant aggression by the occupation forces on the Qatari committee’s headquarters” and expressed solidarity with Doha, urging the international community to immediately put an end to “violations committed by the occupation authorities.”

The UAE strongly condemned the Israeli attack on the Qatari committee’s headquarters in a statement, emphasizing the need for an immediate cease-fire to prevent further bloodshed.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry also condemned the bombing, describing it as a “crime” and a “heinous act.” It called on the international community to “put an end to these Israeli violations carried out under transparent pretexts and lies exposed to the world.”

The Omani Foreign Ministry expressed condemnation for the bombing of the Qatari committee’s headquarters, showing solidarity with Doha and affirming that this attack constitutes a new and blatant violation of international law, continuing Israel’s brutal aggression against the Palestinian people.

Egypt also condemned the targeting of the headquarters, considering it a “new blatant extension of Israeli violations,” expressing solidarity with Qatar against “this heinous attack.”

Jordan in a statement from its Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli bombing of the Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, considering it a “reprehensible war crime” added to Israel’s criminal record.