Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting is a good opportunity for the Muslim world to voice its support for Palestine and condemn the illegal move of US embassy to Quds, describing Washington as being hated more than ever.

Before leaving Tehran on Friday for Istanbul to take part in the extraordinary session on OIC on Palestine, the Iranian president told reporters that 'Defending the Palestinians and the holy Quds, is defending the Islamic values and a civilized nation that is now in a deplorable situation.'

Following the US provocative move in relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv to Quds tens of thousands of Palestinians protested the move that were suppressed brutally by the Israeli forces. At least 60 Palestinians were killed and some 3,000 others injured by live fire or other lethal means.

Turkey as the rotating president of OIC has invited the heads of states and foreign ministers of the Muslim countries to the meeting to discuss the latest status of the occupied territories.

'This is not a new crime perpetrated by the Zionists because they have committed such crimes over the past 70 years; in fact, the killing and wounding Palestinians on the Nakba Day is the latest instance of the 70-year-long record of crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian people,' Rouhani said.

Commenting on relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Quds, Rouhani said the move is against the UN Security Council's resolutions, and it will certainly arouse the fury of the Muslim world.

Today, the heavy responsibility of defending the Palestinians, the holy Quds and Islamic values rest on the shoulders of all Muslims, particularly the statesmen of the Muslim world.

Noting that the Zionists and the Americans are trying to distract the Muslim world from Palestine issue to other problems, he said, 'The Muslims should beware that the Palestine cause and Quds will always be the priority of the Muslim world, and we should not let the Zionists make their crimes gradually look legitimate.'

The representatives of fifty-five Muslim countries attending the meeting discussed the stance of the Muslim World on what is going on in the occupied territories, and draw up the final document on Thursday evening.

The document will be discussed in the extraordinary meeting of leaders and foreign ministers of Muslim countries. It will be published as the official stance of the countries after being ratified.

Condemnation of brutal killing of Palestinians by the Zionist regime in international arena and creating a mechanism for trial of Israeli criminals in international courts were among the topics proposed in the document by the experts.

The extraordinary session of OIC on Palestine, Israeli crimes in Gaza and relocation of the US embassy relocation will be held on Friday with the presence of high-ranking officials from more than 40 countries in Istanbul. Thirteen heads of states will participate in the meeting.

 

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