The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): A Giant in Numbers, Silent in Its Actions
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has failed to protect the values and rights of Muslims across the globe from malevolent forces. The continuous and relentless massacres of unarmed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by the vicious and horrifying Zionist forces—led by Prime Minister-turned-war-criminal Benjamin Netanyahu—are alarming. The OIC, as the official representative of the Muslim cause, remains paralyzed by internal divisions—be they religious, geopolitical, economic, or territorial—that pale in comparison to the need for collective Muslim unity. It has also failed to reconcile major rifts, such as those between Iran and Saudi Arabia or between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, the ongoing aggression by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in occupied Palestinian territories underscores the absence of unity and cohesiveness in the Muslim world. Western allies complicit in the Israeli-led genocide of Palestinians continue to support the Zionist state through aid, weaponry, and crucial diplomatic backing, while the genocide unfolds just a border away. The OIC’s silence only deepens the isolation of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. Its passiveness in front of the arsonist Israeli regime highlights the collective failure to stop the Gaza siege. The OIC’s helplessness before ultra-Orthodox Zionist forces demonstrates how vulnerable and obsolete it has become, despite being the second-largest intergovernmental organization after the UN. Even with considerable economic and military power among its member states, the OIC has failed to act effectively.
Muslim unity is shattered by the absence of a unified stance on a single issue. Countries like Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Morocco, Sudan, and Bahrain have normalized ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Even countries that voice opposition to Israel’s actions remain influenced—either directly or indirectly—by the Zionist regime. Turkey, for example, continues significant trade with Israel despite Erdoğan’s public condemnation of Israeli atrocities. In 2023 alone, Turkish exports to Israel totaled $1.52 billion, highlighting the duplicity of its leadership. Such hollow rhetoric from OIC leaders, especially Erdoğan, fosters false hope for the Palestinian cause.
Additionally, fractured relationships between Muslim countries—such as those between Iran and Saudi Arabia or Qatar and Saudi Arabia—undermine regional cooperation. These internal rivalries, masked under the facade of Muslim solidarity, hinder the formation of a united front. Furthermore, some militant groups claiming to fight for Palestine have lost credibility by failing to uphold humanitarian principles. Once viewed as defenders of Palestinian freedom, they are now seen by many as complicit in the broader cycle of violence.
Pakistan, as a regional and global player, must take a firmer stance. It should not limit itself to rhetorical condemnation but must advocate a clear, assertive diplomatic position against Israel’s crimes. Pakistan can also play a pivotal role in mediating conflicts among Muslim countries to restore unity under the OIC’s leadership.
The ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the presence of 57 OIC member states reveals the Muslim world’s dependency on external actors for aid, trade, and security. The Zionist regime, emboldened by Western backing, continues to bomb hospitals, UN schools, and residential areas without consequences. Meanwhile, Muslim nations witness this prolonged genocide with inaction. The audacity of the Zionist regime stems from internal Muslim disunity, lack of resolve, and fragmented commitments to collective action.
The OIC must now adopt decisive, collective measures to demilitarize occupied territories and actively champion Palestinian freedom at every global platform. The people of Palestine must not be abandoned to face the wrath of Zionist and Western aggression alone. Only through bold initiatives, policies, and cohesive leadership can the OIC redeem its fractured image and counter the ongoing Israel-Palestine crisis.
Hassan Raza
The author is a student of Media and Communication Studies at the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad.
