Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Agree to Convene OIC Meeting on Gaza Developments

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to urgently convene a meeting of foreign ministers within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the escalating developments in Gaza, according to a telephone conversation between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Monday, as reported by media.

The decision to hold the OIC meeting came in response to recent provocative remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Palestinians, which were strongly condemned by Deputy Prime Minister Dar. During the call, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while emphasizing Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Palestinian cause.

Prince Faisal expressed his appreciation for Pakistan’s consistent and time-tested support, underscoring the enduring and strategic relationship between the two nations.

In a separate conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s resolute stance on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, focusing on the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also condemned Netanyahu’s controversial remarks suggesting the displacement of Palestinians, issuing a statement rejecting any notion of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory. The controversy began when Netanyahu appeared to jokingly suggest a “Saudi state” instead of a “Palestinian state,” before quickly retracting his statement.

This urgent decision to convene the OIC meeting signals the growing concern among key regional powers regarding the situation in Gaza and the broader Middle East.