OIC Strongly Condemns Escalation of Crimes by Extremist West Bank Settlers, Calls for Accountability

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a statement today in which it strongly denounced the escalating crimes carried out by extremist settlers in the occupied West Bank and is calling for those responsible to be held accountable. The OIC condemned the acts of organized terrorism and daily criminal activities perpetrated by extremist settler groups, who operate with the backing of Israeli occupation forces. The most recent appalling incident took place in the village of Jit, east of Qalqilya, where civilians were indiscriminately shot at, their properties destroyed, and homes, vehicles, and agricultural lands set ablaze, resulting in numerous casualties. Describing these actions as a 'continuation of the blatant aggression against the Palestinian people, their territories, and sacred sites', the OIC holds the Israeli occupation fully liable for the grave outcomes of these reprehensible deeds, said the statement. The organization urged the international community, particularly the United Nati ons Security Council, to fulfill its obligations by ensuring the provision of international protection for Palestinians and by promptly halting the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, which also encompasses Jerusalem. Reiterating its appeal to the international community, the OIC demanded that Israel, as the occupying authority, dismantle all illegal settlements along with their associated militant groups in the occupied Palestinian lands. Source : Saudi Press Agency