Iran denounces US-Israeli plan to expel Gazans, calls for urgent muslim response

File Source: Al Jazeera

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned the joint U.S.-Israeli plan to forcibly displace Gazans, calling it an act of “genocide” with dire consequences for regional and global stability.

In a phone call Saturday night with Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Araghchi urged an extraordinary meeting of the bloc to take decisive action in defense of Palestinian rights.

“The plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza is not only a great crime synonymous with ‘genocide,’ but also has dangerous consequences for the stability and security of the region and the world,” he said. He emphasized that the OIC must act swiftly, convening foreign ministers from its member states to issue a unified response. Taha rejected the forced expulsion of Gazans as “completely unacceptable” and welcomed Iran’s proposal for an emergency summit.

Araghchi also held discussions on the crisis with his counterparts from Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan, reinforcing the need for collective Muslim opposition to Trump’s proposal to clear Gaza of its inhabitants and take control of the territory.

Since October 2023, Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed at least 48,181 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 111,638 others. A ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal that took effect on January 19 has temporarily halted the offensive, with 33 Israeli captives and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners set for release in the first 42-day phase. While the ceasefire remains intact, Trump’s proposal has sparked global outrage and raised concerns over its impact on the fragile truce.