By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – The heads of parliaments from several Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries on Monday called for a "united front" against rising civilian casualties and human rights violations in Gaza, and urged the UN to intervene and put an end to Israel's ongoing violations of international law.
The speakers/presidents of parliaments from Türkiye, Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Malaysia, Iran, Kuwait, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Mauritania, and Guyana attended a virtual emergency meeting of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUIC) to discuss the escalating crisis, said a statement from the Senate of Pakistan.
Expressing "profound" concern over the ongoing violence, the participants collectively appealed to the UN to intervene and halt the continuous violations of international law by Israeli forces.
In an urgent plea to avert an impending humanitarian crisis, they called for "unrestricted" entry of aid and much-needed relief goods into the Gaza Strip.
"The participants, with great emphasis, called for an immediate end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands," the statement added.
They urged the international community to play a "decisive" role in resolving the Palestinian issue, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Malaysian representatives specifically urged that this issue be included as an emergency agenda item in the upcoming 147th IPU General Assembly Meeting, emphasizing that immediate action is required to save the residents of Gaza.
"Furthermore, participants unequivocally denounced the Israeli bombardment as a war crime and emphasized the need for accountability," the statement said.
The lawmakers urged the international community to hold those responsible for these actions accountable in accordance with international law.
Ten days into the conflict with Palestinian group Hamas, Israeli bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over 1 million people – almost half the total population of Gaza – having been displaced, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out, as civilians flee to the south following Israeli warning to evacuate northern areas.
The fighting began when Hamas on Oct. 7 initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 2,750, including 750 children.
In Israel, 1,300 have been killed.