Bangladesh calls for probe into Israel’s use of force against Palestinians

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali has called for an international and independent investigation into and legal action against the Israeli authorities for crimes and atrocities perpetrated against the Palestinian people.

He led an eight-member Bangladesh delegation to the 7th OIC Extraordinary Summit in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday, the foreign ministry said.

Turkey convened the summit in response to the recent developments in the state of Palestine.

Innocent Palestinians were killed during protests that coincided with the shifting of US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

The foreign minister conveyed that the people of Bangladesh and the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly condemn the Israeli atrocities and deplore the US relocation of its embassy.

He conveyed condolences of the prime minister to the bereaved Palestinians and expressed full support, sympathy, and solidarity with the Palestinian “brothers and sisters”.

In his statement delivered in the OIC summit, he reaffirmed Bangladesh’s “principled” position on the establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous Palestinian state within pre-67 borders with East Jerusalem-Al Quds as its capital under a two-state solution.

He emphasised importance of engaging the international community proactively to realise the two-state solution.

“And in doing so, the members of OIC must stand strong and united to support the rightful cause of the brotherly people of Palestine,” he said.

The summit adopted a Communiqué on the “cold-blooded” massacre of the Palestinian civilian protesters by the Israeli forces as well as on the official opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem in defiance of international law, UNSC, and UNGA Resolutions.

The communiqué reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the OIC.

The Bangladesh delegation included Security Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Major Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, who led the delegation to the Council of Foreign Ministers while Foreign Minister Ali was in the podium in his special role as the Chair of 45th OIC CFM.

Other members in the delegation included Bangladesh Permanent Representative to OIC Ambassador Golam Moshi, Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey M Allama Siddiki, and Director General of Foreign Affairs Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker.