Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, during an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has called for OIC member countries to impose an oil embargo, economic measures, and the expulsion of all Israeli diplomats in response to what he termed a “massacre” at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. The strike, which occurred on Tuesday night, claimed the lives of 500 people, marking the deadliest attack since the conflict began on October 7.
Amirabdollahian’s demands come amidst a rapidly deteriorating Israeli-Palestinian crisis that has sent shockwaves across the region. He emphasized the need for an immediate and complete embargo on Israel by Islamic countries, including oil sanctions, in addition to expelling Israeli ambassadors, if diplomatic relations with the Israeli government have been established.
The Iranian Foreign Minister also called for the creation of a group of Muslim solicitors to investigate any potential war crimes that Israel may have committed in Gaza. It’s important to note that Israel and Iran do not maintain diplomatic relations.
The Israeli government has denied involvement in the strike, asserting that an errant Palestinian rocket was responsible for the hospital’s destruction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “The entire world should know: it was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza, not the IDF [Israeli forces].”
However, Palestinian authorities and the Gaza Health Ministry, represented by spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra, claim that hundreds of lives were lost in the incident, and rescuers are still searching through the wreckage for survivors and victims.
In response to the hospital strike, pro-Palestinian demonstrations have erupted across the Middle East and North Africa. These demonstrations include gatherings at Israeli embassies in Jordan, Turkey, and near the US embassy in Lebanon. Several countries, including Iran, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, and Iraq, have witnessed sizable protests against the ongoing conflict.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reacted strongly to the hospital blast, labeling it a “hideous war massacre” and asserting that “Israel has crossed red lines.” Abbas has also canceled a summit with his US counterpart in light of the incident.
Health officials in Gaza report that nearly 3,500 Palestinians have lost their lives during the 11-day conflict, with another 13,000 sustaining injuries. Meanwhile, Israel has reported 1,400 fatalities and 4,475 injuries.
The situation continues to evolve rapidly, with international pressure mounting for a resolution to the conflict and an investigation into the tragic events at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza.
