Indonesia calls on OIC to unite for Palestinian independence at UN

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3 hours ago

International law must be upheld, and those responsible for violations must be held accountable,

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono called on member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strengthen unity and leverage growing international recognition of Palestine, to advocate for Palestinian independence.

Speaking at the OIC Foreign Ministers’ Annual Coordination Meeting on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday (September 24), Sugiono emphasized that advocating for Palestinian sovereignty remains the primary objective of the Islamic world.

“Unity among OIC member states will strengthen solidarity and cooperation in voicing the interests of the Islamic world,” Sugiono said in a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem continue to obstruct the realization of a two-state solution.

He attributed the continued escalation and regional instability directly to a lack of international accountability.

“International law must be upheld, and those responsible for violations must be held accountable,” Sugiono stated, adding that unchecked violations threaten broader regional stability.

In light of increasing international recognition of Palestine, Indonesia called on the OIC to capitalize on the current momentum to coordinate efforts toward a sustainable peace.

Sugiono encouraged the implementation of a Peace Roadmap for Gaza that reinforces national unity and builds the capacity of the Palestinian government.

“Peace efforts must go hand-in-hand with strengthening the Palestinian people’s ability to determine and manage their own future,” he said.

Beyond the immediate crisis in Palestine, Sugiono urged the 57-member bloc to exert greater influence on the global stage.

Representing nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, the OIC possesses the collective leverage necessary to shape a more inclusive international order, including reforming the United Nations, he noted.

The ministerial gathering also served to formalize support for Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who was congratulated on his election as OIC Secretary-General for the 2026–2031 term following an extraordinary council meeting in Jeddah last month.