Pan-Islamic grouping condemns Israeli ‘flag march’ in East Jerusalem

By Fayez Abdulsalam

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Wednesday an Israeli flag march in East Jerusalem to mark Israel’s occupation of the city in 1967.

According to witnesses, Israeli right-wing groups staged the march through Jerusalem’s Old City, with right-wing settlers gathering provocatively in the city’s Muslim Quarter.

Israeli right-wingers attacked Palestinian residents in Jerusalem’s Old City during the march, witnesses said.

In a statement, the Jeddah-based organization strongly denounced Israeli incursions “into Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in East Jerusalem and allowing settlers to organize a provocative march” in the city.

“Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine and is an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967,” the pan-Islamic grouping said.

“We reject any measures or decisions aimed at imposing Israel’s alleged sovereignty over this city and its holy sites as they are considered illegal,” it added.

Palestinians hold firm to East Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state, citing international resolutions that do not recognize Israel's occupation of the city in 1967 or its annexation in 1981.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip after an attack by the Hamas group on Oct. 7, 2023.

At least 527 Palestinians have since been killed and nearly 5,000 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory, according to the Health Ministry.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala