The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8 Council) convened its Extraordinary Meeting in Istanbul on Saturday (8 June) to address the Gaza crisis.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Minister of Social Welfare of Bangladesh, as well as high-ranking officials of Egypt and Nigeria, attended the Extraordinary Meeting, at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Extraordinary Session was organized against the backdrop of the aggravating situation in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. It aimed at galvanizing support from the D-8 Member States toward Palestine, including providing political, legal, and humanitarian support to the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

The Extraordinary Meeting was also called to put pressure on the international community to stop the grave atrocities committed by the occupying power in Gaza.

In his opening remarks, Foreign Minister Fidan underscored the pressing nature of the situation in Gaza, emphasizing the immediate and coordinated humanitarian assistance required. He stated, “In Istanbul, we (D-8 Countries) declare together to the whole world that we are not silent in the face of Israeli oppression in Gaza and we cannot remain silent.” He also stressed the need for consistent international principles, drawing parallels between global reactions to conflicts in different regions.

While in his remarks, Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, the Secretary-General of the D-8, expressed condolences for the recent losses of prominent/national figures from Iran and Pakistan and called for a moment of silence in their memory.

During his address, the Secretary-General condemned the inhumane atrocities faced by Palestinians and urged for immediate action, including a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors to Gaza. He lauded the efforts of D-8 member states for their generous humanitarian support and emphasized the need for a proactive UN role in securing peace and security in the region.

The D-8 Council issued the Joint Declaration on Gaza, enumerating their support for Palestine. They expressed their stronger condemnation of the brutal and inhuman aggression against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The Council also called for an immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire and cessation of Israeli hostilities.

The D-8 Council further called for humanitarian access to Palestine, through ensuring safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. They also called for the protection of civilians in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Council also reject any attempt to forcibly displace the Palestinians from their land.

The Council also called for support towards the work of the United Nations Relief & Works Agency (UNRWA). They also reiterated support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations. In the same vein, the D-8 Council also voiced its conviction that the two-state solution is the only way forward to achieving perpetual peace in the region.

The D-8 Council of Ministers is the political decision-making organ of the D-8. It acts as a forum for thorough and comprehensive consideration of matters advancing the D-8 cooperation. The Council is composed of Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the D-8 Member States.

Following the D-8 Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Heads of Delegation from the D-8 Member States and the Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization were honored with a reception by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Vahdettin Mansion in Istanbul. During the reception, President Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and praised the collective resolve of the D-8 Member States in seeking an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Gaza.

The D-8 is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1997 by Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye. Its primary objective is to promote the economic performance of the Member States. The Council’s Extraordinary Meeting in Istanbul provides a political foundation for the D-8 to embark on the humanitarian aspect of its cooperation.