The Extraordinary OIC Summit held on Friday in Istanbul convened by the President of Turkey, HE Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in response to latest developments in the State of Palestine and the illegal relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Al-Quds al-Sharif, was concluded with a historical communique by the heads of Member States of the OIC.

Heads of states of around 40 OIC Member States, including presidents, prime ministers and other high level officials concluded the Summit with a joint stance where they strongly condemn the actions of Israeli forces against the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where more than 60 people were killed and more than 3000 injured during a peaceful protest against the Israeli occupation and the illegal relocation of the US embassy to Al-Quds.

The final declaration of the OIC called for the international protection of the Palestinian people, including among others the dispatch of an international protection force.

Also the declaration urges the Member States, the OIC General Secretariat and the OIC subsidiary and specialized and affiliated institutions to take the necessary measures to apply the economic restriction to countries, officials, parliaments, companies or individuals who recognize the annexation of Al-Quds by Israel, the occupying power, and follow the decision of the US Administration to move its embassy to Al-Quds al-Sharif, or deal with any measures related to the consecration of Israeli colonization of the occupied Palestinian.

The declaration asks the international community to ban products of the Israeli settlements from entering their markets and to take measures against individuals and entities involved in or beneficiaries of the perpetuation of occupation and settlement regime.

The OIC will evaluate nations running for international positions and demand support for the Palestinian cause.

During the Summit, it was also emphasized the central mission and raison d'être of the OIC to protect the city of Quds, its history and legal status and to take all necessary measures to put an end to the violations committed by Israel and any party that supports its colonial and racist policies.

Furthermore, the declaration calls upon the United Nations (UN) to take the necessary actions to form an international committee to investigate the recent atrocities in Gaza in order to ensure justice for the victims and put an end to the impunity of the perpetrators.

Hours before the Summit, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Yeni Kapı Square Istanbul in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Representative of OIC countries, including the president of Turkey HE Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Palestinian Prime Ministers Rami Hamdallah addressed the rally and denounced the Israeli violence and the U.S decision to move the embassy to Al-Quds.

Read the Full Communique