Indonesia urges OIC to take concrete action against Israel

Indonesia has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to shift from mere condemnations to tangible actions against Israel, Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta declared at the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. According to a foreign ministry statement, Matta made the plea on Aug 27, emphasizing that the Middle East's escalating crisis is severely testing the OIC's effectiveness.

Matta argued that the OIC must optimize its capabilities and use its mechanisms to ensure Israel faces accountability for its alleged crimes. He proposed classifying acts of violence by illegal settlers as acts of terrorism. Representing Foreign Minister Sugiono, Matta stressed that the regional conflict's impact extends beyond the Middle East, noting that Israel takes advantage of the OIC's divided attention to maintain its activities against Palestinians.

He highlighted Israel's continuous breaches of international law, such as the expansion of unauthorized settlements, the annexation of Palestinian territories, and the killings of Palestinians.