22-07-2025
Final Communiqué Adopted by the Extraordinary Open-Ended Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the Level of Permanent Representatives regarding the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and the targeting of holy sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil
Headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
22 July 2025
The Extraordinary Open-Ended Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the Level of Permanent Representatives was held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on July 22, 2025, to address the Israeli attacks on holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil.
Proceeding from the principles and objectives set forth in the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,
Reaffirming all resolutions adopted during the various sessions of the Islamic Summit Conference, the Council of Foreign Ministers, and the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers concerning the issues of Palestine and Al-Quds Ash-Sharif,
Emphasizing the centrality of the Palestinian cause and Al-Quds Ash-Sharif to the entire Islamic Ummah, recognizing the Arab and Islamic identity of this holy city, and the essential need to protect the sanctity of both Islamic and Christian holy sites located there,
Acknowledging the unique religious, historical, and cultural significance of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil, which is a Palestinian site inscribed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger and is recognized as the fourth-holiest site for Muslims,
Reaffirming UNESCO’s resolutions and its responsibility to preserve and protect the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City of Al-Khalil as an integral part of the territory and cultural heritage of the State of Palestine, confront the cultural genocide perpetrated against the Palestinian people by the Israeli occupation, which includes attempts to falsify and erase Palestinian heritage, history, and national identity, and efforts to impose control over the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil, Judaizing it and altering its identity and historical landmarks,
Expressing deep concern over the escalating Israeli attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites in the occupied territory of the State of Palestine, particularly the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Al-Quds and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil,
Reiterates the necessity to compel Israel, the occupying force, to cease all fire, facilitate the return of displaced persons to their homes, withdraw its occupation forces, and allow the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities, with support from Arab, Islamic, and international communities. All crossings with the Gaza Strip should be opened, and the occupation forces must withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip, including the area surrounding the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side, so that it can resume operations while the crossing on the Egyptian side continues to operate without interruption, ensuring the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip. It emphasizes the obligation of all states to confront and halt serious crimes, fully comply with international law, and adhere to the precautionary measures ordered by the International Court of Justice and Security Council Resolutions 2735 and 2728 (2024).
Condemns in the strongest terms the policy of starvation and systematic destruction, the illegal Israeli blockade, the imposition of unlawful mechanisms for the distribution of aid, undermining the work of the United Nations in the distribution of aid, and targeting civilians with humiliation and killing while receiving aid through the newly introduced unlawful Israeli mechanism. Such actions have led to a serious and unprecedented exacerbation of the humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip, rendering it uninhabitable.
Rejects any calls, plans or policies aimed at any form of displacement of the Palestinian people inside or outside Palestine, including the Gaza Strip, or altering its demographic composition. It also warns all States against cooperating directly or indirectly with Israeli displacement plans, as any such cooperation would constitute a grave violation of the rules of international humanitarian law.
Warns of the dangers posed by the ongoing and escalating military aggression and crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in the West Bank, especially in refugee camps, including arrests, home demolitions, infrastructure destruction, forced displacement, deportation of the Palestinian people, changes in the demographic composition, colonial settlement, and attempts to impose claimed Israeli sovereignty over these areas in blatant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
Condemns in the strongest terms the illegal and dangerous plans of the Israeli occupation to transfer the management and oversight of the Ibrahimi Mosque from the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs and the Al-Khalil Municipality to an illegal settlement council known as the ‘Jewish Religious Council in the Kiryat Arba Settlement.’ This move aims to alter the mosque’s unique historical, cultural, and religious characteristics and status. Such actions represent a blatant violation of UN and UNESCO resolutions, as well as international agreements that call for the protection of cultural, religious, and civil rights and property, particularly during armed conflict.
Strongly condemns the recent Israeli bombing of the Holy Family Church of the Latin Patriarchate in Gaza City, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of several innocent Palestinian civilians and caused significant damage to the church building and its historic facilities. It also condemns the attacks carried out by extremist settlers, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, on the Al-Khader Church and the Christian cemetery in the town of Taybeh, near Ramallah, in clear violation of all international values, conventions, and resolutions safeguarding places of worship.
Condemns the illegal Israeli occupation policies aimed at ‘Judaizing’ the occupied city of Al-Quds. It highlights attempts to change the city’s geographic and demographic character through annexation, colonial settlement policies, home demolitions, confiscation of land and property, closure of Palestinian shops and institutions, and the imposition of Israeli educational curricula. It also condemns attempts to alter the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites, particularly the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, which violates international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
Reaffirms that Israel, as the illegal occupying power, has no sovereignty over or under the Occupied Palestinian Territory, whether above or beneath the ground, including Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, nor over any religious, historical, or world heritage sites in the State of Palestine. It supports the exclusive right of the State of Palestine to oversee, maintain, and protect the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil, ensuring freedom of access and the practice of religious rituals while preserving its cultural and historical identity, as this is a religious and cultural right of the Palestinian people.
Tasks the Islamic Group with continuing its efforts with UNESCO, its World Heritage Committee, and relevant international organizations to inscribe both tangible and intangible cultural heritage sites in Palestine onto the specialized World Heritage Lists, and pressure Israel, the occupying power, to stop its systematic attacks and violations against historical, religious, and cultural sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly concerning the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Al-Quds and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil. Additionally, the group is mandated to ensure that Israel complies with all UNESCO resolutions pertaining to the preservation of the integrity and authenticity of Palestinian sites included on the World Heritage List.
Calls upon the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 1967, as well as all relevant UN bodies, to contribute to monitoring, protecting, and promoting the cultural rights of the Palestinian people, document and report on Israeli violations of human rights related to culture and heritage, provide all possible technical assistance to the Palestinian government in this regard, and ensure that the Israeli occupation respects and fulfills its obligations regarding Palestinian cultural rights as part of fundamental human rights.
Mandates the OIC General Secretariat to coordinate with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and any other relevant bodies to organize activities and events that highlight the religious, historical, and cultural significance of the Old City and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil. It is also mandated to intensify efforts to protect Palestinian cultural heritage, compile a record of damage to cultural heritage in Palestine because of Israeli aggression, and address all acts of looting, plunder, destruction, and forgery committed by the Israeli occupation against human cultural heritage in Palestine.
Requests UNESCO to fulfill its role in preserving and protecting the cultural and historical heritage in Palestine. A joint interactive monitoring mission should be dispatched from the World Heritage Center and the International Council on Monuments and Sites to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the Holy City of Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, the Old City, and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil to assess the state of preservation of tangible heritage and the impact of Israeli interventions on the Outstanding Universal Value of these sites.
Calls upon all states to contribute to the restoration of the Old City of Al-Khalil, preserve the heritage and civilization of this ancient city, strengthen the resilience of Palestinian citizens there, support cultural facilities and infrastructure, and confront the Israeli occupation’s attempts and crimes to steal, destroy, falsify, and distort the cultural heritage of the Palestinian people.
Urges the international community to take practical and concrete steps, including imposing sanctions on the Israeli colonial regime, to halt all illegal practices, measures, and policies, and to hold Israel, as the illegal colonial occupying power, accountable for all its crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, whether committed by government officials, occupation forces, or terrorist settlers.
Tasks the OIC General Secretariat to coordinate with the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre (SESRIC), the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), and the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art, and Culture (IRCICA) to organize cultural and media events aimed at raising awareness of the seriousness of Israeli violations against Islamic holy sites in Palestine, particularly the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil through training and cooperation initiatives for Palestinian national experts while enhancing their skills in promoting and managing Islamic heritage tourism. These events aim to contribute to the restoration and protection of historical, cultural, and religious sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while also highlighting their cultural, historical, and religious significance.
Requests the OIC General Secretariat to coordinate with ICESCO, IRCICA, the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the OIC (IPHRC) and other relevant OIC organs to hold a specialized workshop for experts in international law and heritage from the Member States. This workshop will discuss and propose an action plan to address the grave violations committed by Israel, the illegal occupying power, against heritage, cultural, and religious sites in Palestine, and submit the necessary recommendations.
Underlines the importance of involving youth in efforts to preserve the cultural and historical identity of the State of Palestine, and encourages the OIC General Secretariat to coordinate with relevant OIC institutions–such as the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum and the World Muslim Scouts and Youth Federation–to initiate educational and cultural programs that foster solidarity with the Palestinian people and contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of sustainable development.
Condemns and warns against the continued illegal withholding of tax revenues belonging to the Palestinian authorities by the Israeli occupation, as it violates signed agreements. This action jeopardizes the Palestinian government’s ability to provide essential services and worsens the economic and humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people. It urges the international community to pressure Israel, the occupying power, to fulfill its legal and financial obligations in this matter.
Calls upon the Member States to increase their financial, economic, and humanitarian support for the State of Palestine and stresses the need to activate the Islamic Financial Safety Net in accordance with the resolutions passed by successive sessions of the Islamic Summit Conference and the Council of Foreign Ministers to assist the Palestinian government in fulfilling its obligations to the Palestinian people, especially in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression.
Urges the Member States to boycott all festivals and academic, cultural, artistic, and sports activities organized by official or civil society Israeli institutions due to their role in exploiting culture and art to perpetuate, justify, or enhance the image of the Israeli regime of occupation, colonial settlement, and apartheid, while covering up ongoing Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people and promoting Israeli cultural appropriation of Arab Palestinian culture and arts.
Requests the Secretary-General to follow up on the implementation of this Communiqué and submit a report on it to the next session of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
