The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, expressed today his grave concern over the on-going fighting between Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to a press release of the OIC issued here. In the light of his eagerness to stem the bloodshed and his commitment to the unity of the Palestinian people and their national cause, the Secretary-General contacted President Mahmud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and appealed to them to cease the Palestinian fighting and to prevent the strife. He affirmed that the Palestinian political leaders must face up to their responsibility for controlling the fighting groups and militias, implementing the provisions of Makkah Agreement, and resuming open dialogue in order to preserve the Palestinian people's cause and to devote all efforts to achieve national goals, end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and establish the independent State with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital." The Secretary-General stated that this fighting, which causes pain to all those who are committed to the Palestinian cause, only serves the occupation forces that tamper everyday with the sanctities and maintain the embargo, killings and the construction of settlements and the segregation wall.
