International community must fulfill its responsibilities on Gaza: OIC

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip and the increase in indiscriminate attacks on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

As a result of these attacks, hundreds of Palestinians have lost their lives, most of whom are children and women. More than 1.5 million Palestinians live in Rafah and lack even the basic necessities of life.

In a statement on Wednesday, the OIC warned that in flagrant violation of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) order, Israel escalated the aggression, which “continues the crime of genocide, human suffering in the Gaza Strip.” It is an unacceptable attempt to increase and forcefully expel the Palestinian people.

The statement said the ICJ called on the ‘occupying power’ Israel to take immediate measures to stop the commission of all acts within the scope of Article 2 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The OIC also condemned the “ongoing attacks, incitement and organized terrorism by extremist settler groups and the occupying Israeli forces” against Palestinian citizens, their lands, property and holy sites in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Of.’

The OIC urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the need to comprehensively end Israeli aggression and ensure the unconditional delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza ended inconclusively, concern over possible Israeli attack on Rafah

Earlier, calls for a halt to Israel’s possible offensive on Gaza’s southern Rafah and cease-fire talks ended inconclusively on Tuesday. The United States, Egypt, Israel and Qatar were involved in these negotiations.

According to Reuters, the city of Rafah, which had a population of about 300,000 before the Israeli offensive, is home to displaced people displaced by Israeli bombardment in northern Gaza, who live in tents and makeshift shelters. are accepted

Israel says it wants to dismantle the Hamas strongholds in Rafah and free Israelis held there, for which the Israeli military is planning to evacuate Palestinian civilians, but no plan has yet been announced and aid has yet to be released. The agencies say that the displaced have nowhere else to go.

Martin Griffiths, the head of the United Nations aid agency, has said that Palestinians living in Rafah “face death” and that an Israeli ground offensive will make it almost impossible to deliver humanitarian aid.

“Military operations in Rafah could lead to carnage in Gaza,” Griffiths said in a statement. They could cripple an already weak humanitarian operation.’

Locals say Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of Rafah late at night, causing panic.

He said that dozens of homeless people have started leaving Rafah after Israeli shelling and airstrikes in recent days.

Nahla Jarwan, a Palestinian citizen, referring to the coastal refugee camp, said that they are returning to al-Maghazi due to fear and moving from one area to another. ‘Everywhere we go, there is no safety.’

Rafah is located on the border with Egypt, but Cairo has made it clear that it will not allow the movement of refugees across the border.

Gaza health authorities have announced the deaths of 133 more Palestinians in the past 24 hours. Since October 7, 2023, 28,473 Palestinians have lost their lives and 68,146 have been injured.

Many others are believed to be buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings in the densely populated Gaza Strip. Food, water and other essentials are running out and diseases are spreading.

Almost half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are now trapped in Rafah.

The 30-year-old nanny, who lives in a tent with her mother, grandmother and five siblings, said: ‘Since Israel has said it will attack Rafah soon, we say our last prayers every night. . Every night we say goodbye to each other and to relatives outside Rafah.’

Ceasefire negotiations inconclusive

Egypt’s official information service said that in Cairo, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks with CIA director William Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, with the aim of agreeing to a cease-fire in Gaza, civilians. was to protect and provide more aid to the area.

In a statement on his website, he indicated that no progress had been made, citing a “willingness to continue consultation and contact” on key issues.

There was no mention of Israel in Egypt’s statement. According to the reporter of the Reuters news agency, the Israeli delegation left Cairo to return home. The Israeli prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier, a Palestinian official said the parties were seeking a formula acceptable to Hamas, which insists that Israel pledge to end its aggression and withdraw its forces from Gaza.

A Hamas official said Hamas has told participants that if Israeli prisoners are released, it is confident that Israel will not resume aggression.

The Palestinian group captured these prisoners during an operation in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s government has made the return of prisoners and the elimination of Hamas its priority.

South Africa’s approach to the International Court of Justice

Meanwhile, South Africa on Tuesday asked the International Court of Justice to consider whether additional emergency measures are needed to protect the rights of Palestinians in Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah.

In a case filed by South Africa, the International Court of Justice last month ordered Israel to take all possible measures to stop the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel denies that it is committing genocide in Gaza.

The South African government has expressed concern that the attack will result in further mass death, loss and destruction.

UNRWA spokeswoman Juliet Touma said she had not been informed of, nor was she part of, any Israeli plans to withdraw from Rafah.

He said: ‘Where are you going to evacuate people because nowhere in the Gaza Strip is safe, the north is devastated, full of weapons and almost uninhabitable.’

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that Washington was working on a prisoner release deal to bring “immediate and lasting” peace to Gaza for at least six weeks.

Biden has urged Israel to stop its offensive in Rafah without a viable plan to protect civilians.

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