D-8 FMs back Gaza
By Mehdi Shoushtari
Iranian FM assistant
The foreign ministers of the D-8 group of Muslim developing nations convened in Istanbul yesterday, under Turkey’s auspices, with Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri in attendance. Founded in 1996, the D-8 comprises eight Islamic nations—Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Nigeria—representing 1.2 billion people globally and boasting a combined GDP of $4.8 trillion. As the primary decision-making authority within the organization, the Council of Ministers consists of the foreign ministers from each member state. The recent meeting aimed to cultivate a unified stance against the Zionist regime in light of the Gaza war.
Eight months into the Gaza war, the mounting Palestinian death toll has surpassed 36,000, with women and children constituting over 70% of the casualties. Undeterred by widespread international condemnation, the Zionist regime continues its atrocities, perpetrating acts of genocide and targeting Palestinian refugees in Rafah. Muslim communities around the world demand tangible action from their governments to support the Palestinian people, as evidenced by numerous demonstrations in Muslim countries denouncing the Zionist regime.
Despite global public support for Gaza—extending beyond Islamic nations to Europe and America—some critics lament the perceived inaction of the Arab world in the face of the regime’s crimes. Several Muslim countries in the region persist in maintaining trade ties with the Zionist regime, catering to its energy and transportation needs. In an effort to extend support to the Palestinians, the D-8 members assembled for this critical foreign ministers’ meeting.
The D-8, primarily an economic alliance, is holding its first meeting focused on a political matter—the Palestinian issue. The Islamic Republic of Iran, an active and influential D-8 member, participated at the foreign minister level, underscoring the significance of the Palestinian cause in its foreign policy.
Baqeri, following his recent visits to Lebanon and Syria and a series of diplomatic phone calls, continues to advocate for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s proposal to convene an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). By prominently featuring this topic on the D-8 agenda and participating actively in the meeting, Iran emphasizes its unwavering commitment to supporting the Islamic Resistance Front in the wake of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s passing.
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