JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: August 21, 2024, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) commemorates the 55th anniversary of the attempted arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a pivotal site in Islam and a symbol of enduring significance to Muslims worldwide.
This solemn occasion highlights the ongoing challenges facing the sacred site amid escalating Israeli violations.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, has faced increasing encroachments by Israeli officials and extremist settler groups. Recent reports indicate repeated desecrations, closures of access gates, and violent assaults on worshippers. Such actions are seen as blatant breaches of the mosque’s sanctity and a violation of international law and the freedom of worship.
On this significant day, the OIC reaffirms its commitment to the preservation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the broader Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. The organization emphasizes the importance of maintaining the mosque’s status as a solely Muslim place of worship and rejects any measures that seek to alter the geographical or demographic landscape of Jerusalem. The OIC also underscores that Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, the capital of the State of Palestine, remains a part of Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, and it denounces attempts to impose Israeli sovereignty over the city and its sacred sites.
The OIC calls on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take decisive action to halt the ongoing aggression in Gaza, stop Israeli settlement activities, and support the Palestinian right to return. The organization advocates for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders recognized on June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The OIC expresses profound solidarity with the Palestinian people, commending their resilience in defending their land and holy sites. The organization reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and urges continued international solidarity with Jerusalem and its people.
