The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has formally rejected all plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people, declaring such actions ethnic cleansing and a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The decision was issued during the 20th extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, convened at the OIC General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the joint request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Palestine, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The session focused squarely on addressing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and the attempts to displace them from their land. In a comprehensive resolution released via the Saudi Press Agency, the ministers condemned policies of starvation and scorched earth aimed at forcing Palestinians to leave their territory, and demanded an immediate end to annexation, illegal settlements, house demolitions, land confiscation, and military incursions into Palestinian camps and cities. The meeting underscored the centrality of the Palestinian Cause to the Islamic Ummah and reaffirmed unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights.
Context and Background
Why has the OIC chosen this moment to convene an extraordinary session at its Jeddah headquarters? The answer lies in the escalating humanitarian and political crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, which has demanded urgent collective action from the 57-member organization. The session reinforced the foundational principles and strategic objectives outlined in the OIC Charter, and it affirmed resolutions adopted at the Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit on Israeli aggression, held in Riyadh on November 11, 2024. That Riyadh summit set the stage for the current Jeddah declaration, which builds on successive Arab and Islamic summits dating back to 2002.
The ministers were guided by the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions, specifically UN Security Council resolutions 2735 (2024), 2728 (2024), and 2334 (2016), as well as General Assembly resolution ES 10/24 adopted on September 18, 2024, concerning the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice confirming the illegality of the Israeli occupation and colonial settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The OIC’s consistent position has been that the Palestinian Cause remains the central issue for the Muslim world, and that any attempt to alter the demographic composition of Palestinian territory constitutes a red line that the international community must confront.
The Jeddah session also reaffirmed the imperative for Israel, as the illegal occupying power, to adhere to the provisions of a permanent and sustainable ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip declared on January 15, 2025, under the joint mediation of the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United States of America. The ministers emphasized that this ceasefire must lead to a permanent and comprehensive cessation of hostilities, facilitate the return of displaced persons to their homes, withdraw Israeli occupying forces, open all crossings, and ensure adequate humanitarian access to all parts of Gaza.
Key Details of the Jeddah Declaration
What exactly does the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ resolution entail, and how does it translate into actionable diplomacy? The declaration strongly rejects and unequivocally confronts plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people individually or collectively, inside or outside their land, whether through forced displacement, exile, or deportation in any form, under any circumstance or justification. The ministers classified such actions as ethnic cleansing, a grave violation of international law, and a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as well as an unacceptable encroachment on the sovereignty and stability of states and a threat to their security and territorial integrity.
The council demanded an end to all policies and measures of annexation, illegal settlements, house demolitions, land confiscation, destruction of infrastructure, and Israeli military incursions into Palestinian camps and cities. It also rejected attempts to impose so-called Israeli sovereignty on any parts of the West Bank, including East Al-Quds, warning that such moves threaten to blow up the entire situation in an unprecedented manner, further inflame and complicate the regional situation, and constitute a flagrant violation of the principles of international law and relevant UN resolutions. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East as a strategic choice based on the full withdrawal of Israel from all Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.
Beyond condemnation, the declaration adopted concrete political and reconstruction measures. It welcomed and supported the decision of the Government of the State of Palestine to form an administrative committee under its umbrella that includes national competencies from the Gaza Strip for a transitional period, enabling it to assume all responsibilities, maintain security, and implement plans for relief, recovery, reconstruction, and development. The council also adopted the plan presented by the Arab Republic of Egypt, in full coordination with the State of Palestine and Arab States, and based on studies conducted by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, which was adopted at the Extraordinary Arab Summit on early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.
International and Regional Impact
How will this OIC decision reverberate across global diplomatic capitals and multilateral institutions? The Jeddah declaration sends a unified message from the Islamic world that any forced displacement of Palestinians will be treated as a crime against humanity, raising the political and legal stakes for any actor considering such measures. The council supported the efforts of the Global Alliance for Implementation of the Two-State Solution, chaired by Saudi Arabia, and welcomed active participation in the International Conference to Settle the Palestinian Question and Implement the Two-State Solution, chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York in June 2025. This conference represents a critical diplomatic milestone that will bring together international stakeholders to advance a negotiated settlement.
The resolution also holds Israel, as the illegal occupying power, legally accountable for the significant harm arising from war crimes and acts of genocide perpetrated against the Palestinian people, including extensive destruction, substantial fatalities, human suffering, material losses, economic detriment, and the devastation of property, residential areas, infrastructure, and civil and social facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly within the Gaza Strip. The ministers demanded that Israel cease these impacts, rectify the damage incurred, and provide compensation for the losses suffered. This legal framing is expected to strengthen the case for accountability mechanisms in international courts and to pressure donor countries to condition reconstruction assistance on genuine progress toward a two-state solution.
Economic and Strategic Significance
What economic levers does the OIC possess to support Palestinian recovery and reconstruction? The council urged the international community and international and regional funding institutions to swiftly provide the necessary support for the Egyptian reconstruction plan, emphasizing that all these efforts run in parallel with the initiation of a political process and a perspective for a lasting and just solution. The World Bank and United Nations Development Programme studies underpinning the plan provide a credible financial framework for rebuilding Gaza’s devastated infrastructure, housing, health facilities, and economic assets. Saudi Arabia, as chair of the Arab-Islamic Joint Committee on Gaza, has been at the forefront of mobilizing financial and political support for these efforts.
The strategic significance of the Jeddah declaration extends beyond Palestine. By reaffirming the OIC’s commitment to a just and comprehensive peace based on the Arab Peace Initiative in all its elements and natural sequence as set forth in successive Arab and Islamic summits since 2002, the council has reinforced the principle that regional stability requires a durable resolution to the Palestinian question. The ministers emphasized the imperative for Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement and held it fully responsible for the failure of efforts as a result of its failure to fulfill its obligations. This stance positions the OIC as a coherent diplomatic bloc capable of shaping the parameters of any future peace process, while also protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states across the region.
Vision 2030 Alignment
How does Saudi Arabia’s leadership on the Palestinian question connect to its broader Vision 2030 objectives? The Kingdom’s role as chair of the Arab-Islamic Joint Committee on Gaza and co-chair of the International Conference to Settle the Palestinian Question and Implement the Two-State Solution reflects its commitment to regional stability as a foundation for economic diversification and global engagement. Vision 2030 seeks to position Saudi Arabia as a pivotal diplomatic and economic hub, and active mediation in the Palestinian cause enhances the Kingdom’s standing as a responsible international actor committed to peace, justice, and humanitarian values.
The Jeddah declaration also aligns with Vision 2030’s emphasis on multilateral cooperation and sustainable development. By supporting the Egyptian reconstruction plan and urging international funding institutions to contribute, Saudi Arabia is helping to create conditions for long-term recovery that benefit the entire region. The Kingdom’s continued advocacy for a two-state solution, with East Al-Quds as the capital of a sovereign State of Palestine on the borders of June 4, 1967, demonstrates a forward-looking vision that prioritizes dignity, stability, and prosperity for all peoples of the Middle East. As the June 2025 UN conference approaches, Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic leadership will remain central to translating these principles into a lasting and just peace.
20 Questions
Q1. What was the main outcome of the OIC Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Jeddah?
A1. The council rejected all plans to displace the Palestinian people, classifying such actions as ethnic cleansing and a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Q2. When and where did the 20th extraordinary session take place?
A2. The session was held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the OIC General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the request of Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Iran, and Pakistan.
Q3. Which countries requested the extraordinary session?
A3. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Palestine, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan jointly requested the session to address Israeli aggression and displacement attempts.
Q4. How did the OIC describe plans to displace Palestinians?
A4. The OIC described them as ethnic cleansing, a grave violation of international law, a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute, and an unacceptable encroachment on state sovereignty and stability.
Q5. What policies did the ministers condemn regarding the Palestinian people?
A5. They condemned policies of starvation and scorched earth aimed at forcing the Palestinian people to leave their land, and rejected any attempts to change the demographic composition of Palestinian territory.
Q6. What specific Israeli measures did the council demand an end to?
A6. The council demanded an end to annexation, illegal settlements, house demolitions, land confiscation, infrastructure destruction, military incursions into Palestinian camps and cities, and attempts to impose Israeli sovereignty on the West Bank.
Q7. Which international resolutions guided the OIC decision?
A7. The decision was guided by UN Security Council resolutions 2735 (2024), 2728 (2024), and 2334 (2016), and General Assembly resolution ES 10/24 adopted on September 18, 2024.
Q8. What did the International Court of Justice advisory opinion confirm?
A8. The ICJ advisory opinion confirmed the illegality of the Israeli occupation and colonial settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territory, emphasizing the urgent necessity to terminate such practices.
Q9. What ceasefire agreement did the OIC reference?
A9. The OIC referenced the permanent and sustainable ceasefire agreement in Gaza declared on January 15, 2025, under the joint mediation of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States of America.
Q10. What did the council say about Israel’s responsibility for the ceasefire?
A10. The council held Israel, as the occupying power, fully responsible for the failure of efforts due to its failure to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement.
Q11. Which global alliance did the OIC support, and who chairs it?
A11. The OIC supported the Global Alliance for Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which is chaired by Saudi Arabia as chair of the Arab-Islamic Joint Committee on Gaza.
Q12. What major international conference is scheduled for June 2025?
A12. The International Conference to Settle the Palestinian Question and Implement the Two-State Solution, chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, will be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York in June 2025.
Q13. What vision of Palestinian governance did the OIC reaffirm?
A13. The OIC reaffirmed commitment to Palestinian national unity under the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative, with one law and one legitimate armed force.
Q14. What administrative committee did the council welcome?
A14. The council welcomed the Palestinian government’s decision to form an administrative committee including national competencies from Gaza for a transitional period to maintain security and implement reconstruction.
Q15. Which reconstruction plan did the OIC adopt?
A15. The OIC adopted the plan presented by Egypt, in coordination with Palestine and Arab States, based on World Bank and UNDP studies, as endorsed at the Extraordinary Arab Summit.
Q16. What did the OIC say about Israel’s legal accountability?
A16. The OIC held Israel legally accountable for war crimes and acts of genocide, including destruction, fatalities, human suffering, material losses, and devastation of property and infrastructure in Palestinian territory.
Q17. What is the OIC’s position on the borders of a Palestinian state?
A17. The OIC supports the establishment of the State of Palestine based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Al-Quds Ash-Sharif as its capital, and the right of refugees to return and receive compensation.
Q18. How does the OIC view the Arab Peace Initiative?
A18. The OIC reaffirmed commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative in all its elements and natural sequence as set forth in successive Arab and Islamic summits since 2002.
Q19. What role is Saudi Arabia playing in the diplomatic process?
A19. Saudi Arabia chairs the Arab-Islamic Joint Committee on Gaza, co-chairs the June 2025 UN conference with France, and leads the Global Alliance for Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
Q20. How does this OIC decision align with Saudi Vision 2030?
A20. It reinforces Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals of regional stability, multilateral cooperation, and global diplomatic leadership, positioning the Kingdom as a pivotal mediator for peace and sustainable development.
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