TEHRAN – In a critical response to the relentless aggressions by the Zionist regime against the Palestinian people, participants in the fifth emergency session of the meeting of the standing committee of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) convened in Tehran on Wednesday. 

The session brought together representatives to discuss the urgent need for comprehensive support for the resistance of the Palestinian people against the occupying forces.

The final statement issued by the PUIC highlighted the severity of the situation, condemning the brutal actions of the Zionist regime as thousands of lives have been lost, accompanied by extensive destruction of vital infrastructure in Gaza. 

Emphasizing the urgent need for intervention, the participants called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. They expressed concern over the deliberate opposition by the Zionist regime to any prospect of a ceasefire and the opening of corridors for humanitarian aid to reach the people in the Gaza Strip and other occupied Palestinian territories.

The statement solidified the stance of member countries, urging collective action against the Zionist regime's aggression in the ongoing crisis.

The ongoing crisis, as discussed in the meeting, poses a serious challenge to the entire region, with potentially dangerous consequences for global peace and security.

Speaker criticizes U.S. and its Western allies for deceitful stance on Palestine

Addressing the meeting, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf defended the rights of the Palestinians to resist occupation and aggression.

He called for strong resistance against the harsh and inhumane policies of the Zionist regime against Palestinians, cautioning against being swayed by misleading narratives propagated by the usurper regime.

Highlighting the Oct. 7 al-Aqsa Storm Operation as a spontaneous and natural response to the oppression and aggression faced by the defenseless people of Palestine, Ghalibaf underscored the importance of recognizing the operation as a legitimate move in defending inherent rights.

Ghalibaf emphasized that achieving peace hinges on the realization of justice and the protection of the rights of the victims of atrocities. 

Ghalibaf stressed the imperative of a firm stand against the harsh and inhumane policies of the Zionist regime.

 Islamic countries: United for Palestine

Representatives from 26 Islamic and Asian countries, including Bahrain, Turkiye, Algeria, Oman, and China shared their view of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, highlighting the urgent need to take necessary actions for the trial of the Zionist regime and halt the war.

A representative from the Palestinian parliament underscored the imperative for Islamic nations to stand in support of Palestine, vehemently denouncing bilateral ties with the Zionist regime as a tacit approval of ongoing atrocities.

"It has been nearly 96 days since the aggression against the rights of the Palestinian people and the assault on Gaza. Explosives have been unleashed on the population, and Israeli aggression along the western borders and Jerusalem persists," Fahmi Al-Za’aeer noted.

President of the Algerian Parliament Ebrahim Boughali also urged advocates for the freedom of Palestine and global leaders to take necessary actions for the trial of the Zionist regime in international courts.

"All tools should be used to prosecute Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people in international courts," said Qassem Hashem, the representative from the Lebanese Parliament.

During another segment of the meeting, the Speaker of the Syrian Parliament declared, "The cause of Palestine resonates in the conscience of our nation. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and defend them."

The representatives discussed the urgent need for comprehensive support for the resistance of the Palestinian people against the occupying forces.

The final statement issued by the PUIC further highlighted the severity of the situation, condemning the brutal actions of the Zionist regime. 

MAS/PA