MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA — The Muhammadiyah Institute for International Relations and Cooperation (LHKI) has voiced its support for bringing Israel into international legal proceedings. This declaration follows the Extraordinary Summit held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League in Saudi Arabia on November 11, 2023.
In a press release issued on Monday (November 13) in Jakarta, the LHKI reiterated its support for the initiatives of the OIC and the Arab League. Chairman and Secretary of the LHKI, Imam Addaruqutni and Yayah Khisbiyah, conveyed their appreciation for the host, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for its responsible leadership during the extraordinary summit, acknowledging its attentive approach to participants’ concerns.
The focus of the LHKI went beyond appreciation for the summit. It emphatically supports the condemnation of double standards in the application of international law by nations supporting Israel. Criticizing such actions, the LHKI pointed out that they can undermine multilateralism and threaten the global peace order.
Muhammadiyah unequivocally backs the agreement on the urgency to initiate legal proceedings against all criminal acts committed by Israeli occupiers. The importance of involving the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in bringing these perpetrators to international justice is emphasized. The LHKI also urges the legal units in the OIC and the Arab League to implement their mandates and follow up on this agreement promptly.
The rationale behind the call to bring Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) lies in its proven involvement in crimes against humanity. These violations include deliberate military attacks on civilians, illegal settlements in occupied territories, and actions deemed as other violations of human rights.
Until now, Israel has enjoyed a high level of impunity, with its actions violating international law going unaddressed. Bringing the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is seen as a crucial step to ensure accountability for war crimes and human rights violations.
With this resolute stance, Muhammadiyah takes on the role of a moral voice supporting international legal efforts as a crucial step to genuinely address the conflict in the Middle East and ensure justice for the Palestinian people.