Eurasia Press & News
Foreign ministers from nearly 60 member nations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in a declaration on Sunday condemned what they described as an “ongoing genocide” in Gaza and the recent Israeli military actions against Iran, Syria and Lebanon. The ministers also called for urgent humanitarian access and an immediate cease-fire to stem regional instability.
In what became the centerpiece of the “Istanbul Declaration” adopted at the end of the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the OIC — the world’s second-largest intergovernmental group after the U.N. — strongly censured Israel and demanded accountability through international mechanisms.
“We condemn the aggression of Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the ministers stated, “and stress the urgent need to stop Israeli attacks and their great concern regarding this dangerous escalation threatening … human, economic and environmental stability in the region.”
They asserted that threats to Iran alongside the Gaza assault represented a perilous expansion of the conflict and warned that such actions are inexorably linked to broader regional reverberations.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Palestinian cause, advocating for a sovereign, contiguous Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They endorsed a U.N.-led peace conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, aimed at advancing the two-state solution.
Among the most urgent humanitarian concerns, the OIC called for an immediate and sustainable cease-fire in Gaza, implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2735, and plans for reconstruction and revival. They also condemned forced displacement, blocked humanitarian aid, and persecution in the West Bank, viewing these actions as violations of international law and a fundamental threat to regional peace.
Beyond Palestine and Iran, the declaration addressed broader security problems, expressing solidarity with Pakistan amidst rising violence in South Asia and condemning attempts to redraw the civilizational character of Jerusalem’s holy sites. The ministers also denounced rising Islamophobia, supported Azerbaijan in its post-conflict rebuilding, and welcomed Syria’s gradual return to regional diplomacy.
The Istanbul Declaration marks a renewed rallying point for Muslim-majority nations seeking a coordinated diplomatic strategy aimed at de-escalating violence, preserving civilian safety, and promoting inclusive governance. The ministers outlined an agenda to position the OIC as a more proactive actor in regional diplomacy and international mediation.
