Saudi Arabia summons Nigeria and other OIC ministers over Israel-Palestine war

Saudi Arabia summons Nigeria and other OIC ministers over Israel-Palestine war

Saudi Arabia has called for an urgent ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the escalation in Gaza.

According to reports, the meeting was summoned by the Saudi Arabia Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

The OIC includes a wide range of member states from different regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Some prominent members include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

The OIC also has members from Africa like Nigeria and Senegal, as well as from the Balkans like Albania.

The OIC has renewed its condemnation of the Israeli military and its aggression against Gaza and said that it holds Israel responsible for ignoring international resolutions.

A report said; “Crown Prince affirmed that the Kingdom stands by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights, realize their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace.”

Recall on October 6, 2023, war broke out between Israel and Hamas, the militant Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2006.

Hamas fighters fired rockets into Israel and stormed southern Israeli cities and towns across the border of the Gaza strip, killing and injuring hundreds of soldiers and civilians and taking dozens of hostages.

The attack took Israel by surprise, though the state quickly mounted a deadly retaliatory operation. One day after the October 7 attack, the Israeli cabinet formally declared war against Hamas, followed by a directive from the defense minister to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to carry out a “complete siege” of Gaza.