OIC condemns Israeli attacks on Gaza and calls for humanitarian corridors

Saudi Arabia has called for an urgent meeting of the Jeddah-based group to discuss the conflict

At UN headquarters in New York City, Rachel Zeitchik, right, and Jay Zeitchik attend an event for families of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas. AFP

Palestinians flee from northern Gaza towards the south after the Israeli army demanded the population of more than a million people leave before a ground invasion. AP

Demonstrators at a rally in support of Palestine face a counter-demonstration in support of Israel near Times Square in New York. EPA

Palestinians flee from northern Gaza to the south after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning. AP

An injured man is rescued from the rubble of a building following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP

Mourners take cover as sirens sound during the funeral of Tom Godo, killed during the attack by Hamas militants on the Kibbutz Kisuffim last week, in Kibbutz Naan near Tel Aviv. AFP

A Palestinian man flashes the victory sign as he and others leave northern Gaza before an expected Israeli ground offensive. AFP

Palestinians head south with their belongings after being ordered by Israel to leave northern Gaza on Friday. AFP

Israel ordered more than a million Palestinians to head south within 24 hours. Reuters

The UN criticised the directive, saying forcing such a large number of people to flee en masse would be catastrophic. Reuters

Gazans have to travel about 15km if they live in the northernmost part of the strip to reach the area south of the Wadi Gaza. Reuters

The UN said that more than 423,000 people have already fled their homes in the territory, with a sizeable number making the more than 10km journey on foot. Reuters

Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City. AFP

An Armoured Personnel Carrier drives near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. Reuters

Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather for mass Friday prayer during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

A Palestinian woman waits to cross into Jerusalem's Old City through Damascus Gate next to Israeli soldiers. AFP

Israeli army infantry fighting vehicles deploy along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. AFP

Israeli soldiers detain a man while on patrol near Kibbutz Beeri, near the Gaza Strip. AFP

Students hold in a rally in support of Palestine at Columbia University in New York. Getty Images

Family and friends mourn Valentin Ghnassia, 23, who was killed in a battle with Palestinian militants at Kibbutz Beeri near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip. Getty Images

A ball of fire erupts in Gaza city after an Israeli air strike. AFP

Palestinians inspect the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli air strike at Al Shati refugee camp. AP

A fireball erupts from an Israeli air strike in Gaza city. AFP

People waiting for news of victims outside the morgue at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. AFP

A girl mourns the death of members of the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

Israelis arrive to sign up at a weapons distribution point for people allowed to carry arms, at the Ayyelet HaShahar Kibbutz in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border. AFP

Mourners outside the morgue at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for a sixth consecutive day. AFP

Men dig graves to bury members of the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house in Khan Younis. Reuters

Palestinian children who fled their homes during Israeli strikes, play at a United Nations-run school in Gaza City. Reuters

Israeli soldiers near a self-propelled howitzer near the border with Gaza in southern Israel. AFP

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, left, welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. AFP

Palestinian children in a makeshift shelter at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Reuters

Boxes of humanitarian aid and supplies from Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation destined for Gaza, in Amman, Jordan. Reuters

Palestinians outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on the sixth day of fighting between Israel and Hamas. AFP

A pro-Israel vigil in Montevideo, Uruguay. EPA

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation on Thursday condemned the ongoing Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip and called for humanitarian corridors to allow medicine, food and basic needs into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

“The OIC holds Israel, the occupying power, fully responsible for the repercussions of the continuation of this sinful aggression, calling at the same time for the international community to intervene urgently to force Israel, the occupying power, to stop its ongoing attacks against the Palestinian people immediately,” the Saudi Arabian-based organisation said.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday called for an urgent ministerial meeting of the OIC to discuss the escalation in Gaza, where more than 1,400 people have been killed in six days of Israeli bombardment.

Iran has offered to host an emergency meeting of the foreign ministers of the OIC on Palestine in a letter sent to its secretariat in Jeddah, Iranian media reported.

The OIC has not so far issued details of the planned meeting.

Saudi Arabia and Israel appeared to be moving towards a historic deal to normalise relations before the Gaza-based Hamas militant group launched a deadly attack on Saturday that led to retaliation by the Israeli military.

Zaid Belbagi, a political commentator who has advised Saudi government entities for more than a decade, said the attack was "timed in direct relation to the growing prospect of further Arab normalisation".

"It had once been considered that Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Israel would not be upgraded under the reign of King Salman," he told The National.

"Recent events in and around Gaza have a significant spectre for regional escalation given Iran’s backing of Hamas and the recent Saudi-Iranian agreement.

"In any case, the recent action has been intended to refresh minds of the Palestinian cause, which has taken a back seat in recent years as Israel races towards regional recognition."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a phone call on Wednesday.

It was the first direct conversation between the two leaders since a China-brokered deal between Tehran and Riyadh to resume ties in March.

Prince Mohammed has asserted the need to stop the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, and the kingdom’s firm support for the Palestinian cause and efforts aimed at achieving peace.

He has also held phone calls with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron over the Israel-Gaza war.

Arab League foreign ministers who met in Cairo on Wednesday warned that the violence in Israel and Gaza could spiral out of control.