JEDDAH: The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joined the international community in observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It stressed the importance of upholding the right to self-determination of Palestinians and seeking remedies for all systematic violations of their basic human rights, including the fundamental rights of life, worship and freedom of movement, association and assembly. Monitoring the human rights situation throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), the commission reiterated its grave concerns over the oppressive policies of Israel, the occupying power, which include punitive demolition of Palestinian homes and the blockade of Gaza and other areas in the West Bank. This inflicts collective punishment over the civilian population, which is a flagrant violation of Palestinians’ rights to life, health, adequate shelter and an adequate standard of living and freedom of movement, as well as of Articles 33 & 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.HIGHLIGHT The commission reiterated its willingness to continue raising awareness about increasing Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians at all relevant international forums. The commission strongly condemned the continued expansion of Israeli settlement activities across the internationally recognized OPT. This policy has multiplied the number of illegal Israeli settlers in recent years, which undermines the prospect of the two-state solution. The commission reiterated its willingness to continue raising awareness about increasing Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians at all relevant international forums, including by strengthening cooperation with the UN Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT. The commission stressed the importance of building a unified front among OIC member states to bring to an end the increasing Israeli violations of the basic human rights of the Palestinian people.