The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Warns of the Dangers of the Occupation Targeting Sacred Sites and UNRWA Facilities in Jerusalem

SadaNews - The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has warned about the dangers of the Israeli occupation's seizure of a number of historical buildings and Palestinian properties and Islamic endowments around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Secretariat confirmed that these plans come as part of the policies aimed at imposing new demographic and geographic realities on the ground to change the identity of the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, attempting to undermine the historical and legal status of the holy sites, and obliterate the rich cultural, historical, and civilizational heritage of the Palestinian people there.

It also expressed its strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation authorities' decision to approve a settlement plan to convert the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which was forcibly seized in violation of international law in occupied Jerusalem, into a museum and headquarters for what is called the "Israeli Ministry of Security".

The General Secretariat emphasized that the Israeli occupation has no sovereignty over the city of occupied Jerusalem, and that these rejected Israeli measures represent an extension of racist policies and invalid legislations aimed at undermining the presence of UNRWA, its crucial role, facilities, staff, and the mandate granted to it by the United Nations General Assembly, in the framework of its attempts to liquidate the Palestinian refugee issue, constituting a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and its related resolutions, and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

The General Secretariat renewed its call to all active international parties to intervene immediately and urgently to compel the Israeli occupation to stop all these ongoing crimes, violations, and assaults against occupied Jerusalem, its people, and its Islamic and Christian sanctities, and historical landmarks. It also emphasized the necessity of providing protection to United Nations institutions operating in the occupied Palestinian territories, foremost among them UNRWA, and enabling them to carry out their mandate without obstacles.