OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) announced plans on Thursday to convene an emergency session of their Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah on August 25, 2025 to address Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, confirmed Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi on Thursday. IRNA English reported.
Origin of Meeting
This meeting decision came about following a formal request from Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi that garnered support from multiple OIC member states concerned over Gaza’s deepening crisis. Middle East Monitor
IRNA English+12 for additional coverage on this meeting
At a time of mounting civilian deaths and food insecurity, and amid warnings from human rights advocates that this situation constitutes genocide, Islamic nations issued an urgent call for intervention at this emergency session of their world assembly.
Kayhan.ir/PeoplesDispatch AP News
At This Meeting, There Is Widespread Concern The planned meeting comes amid increasing regional condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan labelling Israel’s plans “genocidal and expansionist.” He reiterated the necessity of convening an OIC emergency session as part of an effective Islamic response strategy (AP News +14; Reuters +14 and Anadolu Ajansi both agree).
Two days prior, the OIC issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s plans to seize full control of Gaza – described as an “unacceptable escalation,” further emphasizing the need for coordinated international intervention. Both PublicNow, Middle East Monitor, and Reuters reported strongly against this development.
Expected Agenda and Objectives (TEA and Objectives)
The Jeddah emergency meeting seeks to:
Assess the humanitarian and legal impacts of continued aggression in Gaza;
Coordinate immediate humanitarian relief efforts such as food, medicine and fuel delivery;
Considered diplomatic, legal and economic tools to ensure Israel’s accountability for human rights violations;
OIC member states should create a united political stance in order to press for a permanent ceasefire and international intervention. Wikipedia = IRNA English and Mehr News Agency both offer English coverage; as do kayhan.ir and nournews.ir which provide regional coverage. Middle East Monitor =
This move follows a broader diplomatic push, with countries like Egypt supporting such an assembly to reaffirm the OIC’s longstanding support of Palestine.
Context Background
Since the escalation of hostilities in Gaza, its civilian population has been subjected to hunger, infrastructure collapse and military operations that have caused many civilian deaths, including children. The emergency meeting reflects growing global concern regarding what has become an ongoing humanitarian disaster.
Iranian and Egyptian officials have stressed the moral duty of Islamic nations, calling on the OIC to support international law and humanitarian values. Many analysts see August’s meeting as a key moment for Islamic diplomacy that could shape international responses more widely.
What’s At Stake
With tensions at an all-time high, the OIC emergency meeting could determine whether Islamic countries take significant, coordinated steps–or continue issuing statements of protest. It serves both as a diplomatic gesture and as a test of collective will; their decisions could determine both Gazan civilian lives and regional stability in future decades.