Deputy FM Anis Matta Urges OIC to Halt Israel’s Gaza Annexation Plan

Jeddah: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened an extraordinary ministerial meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, August 25, 2025, to address Israel’s plan to carry out a large-scale permanent occupation in Palestine and annex Gaza.

“No matter how long it takes or how much sacrifice must be endured, Palestine will always remain the beating heart of this Ummah,” said Indonesia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta, as quoted from the Foreign Ministry’s statement on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

He stressed that the vision of a ‘Greater Israel’ and Israel’s efforts to realize it constitute an existential threat to the survival and sovereignty of all countries in the region. Unity and collective mechanisms, he said, are essential to safeguard OIC member states.

“The OIC must mobilize all its strength and resources to reject and halt Israel’s plan for a full occupation of Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank,” Anis asserted.

He further urged the OIC to work with international institutions to end the war and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza through all available channels.

The meeting came amid increasing urgency, after the United Nations declared that Gaza had reached a state of total famine.

“There is nothing more heinous than using hunger as a weapon of war and genocide against our brothers and sisters in Gaza,” he condemned.

With global public opinion gradually shifting to highlight the Palestinian narrative, Anis called on the OIC to seize this momentum to push countries to recognize Palestinian independence, including urging the UN Security Council to hold a special session to end Israel’s occupation of Gaza and all Palestinian territories.

The meeting was attended by 43 OIC member states, 21 of which were represented by their foreign ministers, including the Palestinian Foreign Minister.

The gathering successfully adopted a resolution firmly rejecting Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza, demanding the lifting of the blockade on humanitarian aid, and calling on countries and the UN to take action to stop Israel’s measures.

On the sidelines of the session, Anis also held a bilateral meeting with Iraq’s Foreign Minister to explore cooperation opportunities in the fields of economy, trade, investment, and tourism.

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