Istanbul – Religious leaders representing 92 Islamic countries have made an appeal to the global community, urging them to dispatch peacekeeping troops to shield the marginalized population in Gaza. At the end of a meeting overseen by the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs on Monday, convened virtually with the participation of over 200 Islamic religious representatives from across 92 nations, a strong plea was made. The intent is to safeguard the vulnerable in the region, initiate a humanitarian passageway into Gaza, and facilitate the necessary arrangements to transport the injured to medical facilities in neighboring countries.

According to the National Iraqi News Agency, the concluding declaration of this meeting emphasized that both Palestine and Gaza are recognized as Islamic territories. An immediate halt to Israeli activities in the Gaza Strip and against Palestinians at large was requested. The statement, presented by the Turkish Head of Religious Affairs, Ali Erbas, highlighted the stringent blockade imposed on Gaza residents, cutting them off from fundamental necessities, and underscored that the targeting of religious, medical, and educational establishments “without any discrimination” is a clear display of Israel’s ruthlessness and its disregard for “basic humanitarian, ethical, and legal principles.” Ali Erbas expressed condemnation towards the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which aims to realize “Zionist aspirations,” criticizing the indifference exhibited by Western nations towards these “Israeli transgressions.”

The congregation unanimously opposed the eviction of Palestinians from their domiciles, emphasizing that supporting the Palestinians in their resistance against Israel is an “essential religious duty of every Muslim.” The leaders sought immediate intervention from international bodies, prominently the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to halt the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza. The assemblage underscored the urgency for Islamic countries to unite and adopt a resolute stand to prevent these acts of injustice. Labeling this action as a historic responsibility of Islamic nations. To oversee the enforcement of the deliberations from this meeting, a committee has been instituted, as announced by Ali Arbash. He also voiced the need to persist with global demonstrations standing in solidarity with Palestine and condemning the assaults on Gaza, emphasizing the “principle of law and morality.”