On March 7, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov participated in and addressed an extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during his working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Minister Bayramov extended his best wishes to the entire Islamic world on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

He highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Palestine, emphasizing the mass loss of innocent lives, the destruction of infrastructure, and critical shortages of food and water. Stressing that the use of force leading to civilian casualties is unacceptable, he called for urgent and decisive measures to end the crisis.

In this regard, he underscored the importance of upholding international law principles, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the use of force.

The minister emphasized that Azerbaijan hails the ceasefire achieved in January and that, given the current sensitive situation, it is crucial to refrain from any actions that could violate the ceasefire or lead to further escalation. He also highlighted the need to ensure that the ceasefire serves as a foundation for a sustainable peace process based on international law and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

Azerbaijan reaffirmed its support for resolving the conflict based on the two-state solution, in accordance with the norms and principles of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Alongside peace initiatives, the significance of humanitarian aid efforts was also emphasized. Minister Bayramov reiterated that Azerbaijan, as a responsible member of the OIC and the upcoming OIC Chair in 2026, remains committed to supporting the brotherly people of Palestine. In this regard, he noted that, in addition to previous years, Azerbaijan has provided $2 million in humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people since the escalation in 2023.

He further highlighted Azerbaijan’s initiatives to support the Palestinian people in education and healthcare. In this regard, for the 2024-2025 academic years, Azerbaijan has allocated the "Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant" to 15 students from Palestine and has committed to constructing a school for 600 students in Nablus.

Minister Bayramov emphasized Azerbaijan’s support for the reconstruction and aid plan for Gaza, proposed by Egypt and approved during the Extraordinary Arab Summit on March 4.

During his speech, the minister also extended congratulations on the reinstatement of Syria’s membership in the OIC. He reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as efforts to restore lasting peace and stability in the country.