Hamas welcomes Muslim group’s rejection of Palestinian displacement, support for Gaza reconstruction

By Mohammed Al Ragawi and Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, welcomed on Saturday the rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and support for a reconstruction plan at an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers in Saudi Arabia.

“We welcome the emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Jeddah to discuss the Zionist aggression against our people, as well as plans for annexation and displacement,” it said in a statement.

The group also welcomed “the reaffirmation of rejecting the displacement of our people from Gaza and supporting the reconstruction of the Strip.”

It praised remarks by participating delegations, which emphasized the need to “intensify efforts to end the Zionist aggression” against Palestinians and the region.

The group urged Arab and Muslim governments, peoples, organizations and institutions to “shoulder their responsibilities toward our suffering people in Gaza, take urgent action to provide relief, and impose the opening of crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid, food, fuel, and medical supplies, in order to put an end to this horrific crime being committed in front of the entire world.”

The OIC held the meeting Friday in Saudi Arabia.

OIC Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha emphasized the group’s commitment to the Palestinian people’s right to remain on their land and highlighted the significance of the reconstruction plan adopted at a March 4 Arab League summit in Cairo.

The meeting formally adopted Egypt’s proposed reconstruction plan and issued a resolution urging the international community, along with regional and global financial institutions, to provide immediate support.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, halting Israel’s brutal war, which has killed more than 48,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.