China hosts top diplomats from key OIC nations

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Monday hosted a group of foreign ministers from key member nations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the situation in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

Foreign ministers of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Jordan met their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha is part of the delegation.

The two sides will have “in-depth exchanges with the delegation on de-escalating the current conflict between Israel and Palestine, protecting civilians, and justly resolving the Palestinian issue,” China’s Foreign Ministry said.

Israel has killed 13,000 Palestinians, including 5,500 children and 3,500 women, in its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since the surprise offensive by Hamas on Oct.7. The official Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at about 1,200.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have either been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless strikes on the besieged enclave.

An Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity, and water supplies, and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle.