Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 7/ Trend , B. Hasanov/ Speaker of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC PA) Erol Mahmoud Kilic says PA will issue a statement on the conflict in Gaza in its emergency meeting to be held in Istanbul Jan. 14.
"Representatives of each country will express their opinion during discussion and the meeting will end with a statement," Kilic said to Trend by telephone from Tehran Jan. 7.
Israeli Air Forces struck the Gaza Strip at day time on Dec. 27. After six-month truce between Hamas and Israel expired on Dec. 19, Hamas fired rockets at Sderot and Ashkelon towns of Israel as a response to murder of four Palestinians.
The military offensive launched by Israel on Dec. 27 claimed lives of 660 people and injured 3,000. Women and children account for greater part of the dead and injured, Hamas press service in Gaza said to Trend . Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders have promised to revenge Israel for crimes committed in the Gaza Strip.
As a response to Israeli air strikes to the Gaza Strip, Hamas fired about 60 missiles to Sderot and Ashkelon. Israeli government announced emergency situation in these towns. Israel launched ground offensive in the Gaza Strip Jan. 3.
Kilic said mass media representatives will not be allowed to the discussion adding that the statement will be one of the first steps to call on Muslim countries to take concrete measures with regard to the latest developments in Gaza.
OIC PA chairman said Azerbaijani delegation has also been invited to the meeting. Majority of the countries to take part in the meeting will be represented by parliaments and that it is not known yet whether Azerbaijani parliament will be represented by the speaker, he said.
OIC PA Executive Committee decided to hold emergency meeting on the latest developments in Gaza at the initiative of the speaker of the Turkish parliament Koksal Toptan on Jan 4.
OIC PA includes 50 countries and its Executive Committee 10 countries - Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Mali, Nigeria, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Chad and Benin.
