OIC says Israel ‘fully responsible’ for Haniyeh’s murder

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has held Israel responsible for the attack that killed Ismail Haniyeh, the senior leader of Hamas, last week in Iran.

The statement released following the meeting of the 57-member bloc on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia said “It holds Israel, the illegal occupying power, fully responsible for this heinous attack”. OIC also referred to the strike as “a serious infringement” of Iran’s sovereignty.

According to the host Saudi Arabia, the killing of Haniyeh was a “blatant violation” of Iran’s sovereignty. “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rejects any violation of the sovereignty of states or interference in the internal affairs of any country” said Deputy Foreign Minister, Waleed al-Khereiji.

The meeting was called by Iran and Palestine. The OIC bloc identifies itself as the Muslim world’s collective voice.