ISTANBUL – The D-8 group of developing nations called on Saturday for the US to lift its veto on granting Palestine full membership as an independent and sovereign state in the United Nations.
Currently, Palestine is recognized as a non-member observer state, a status granted by the UN General Assembly in 2012.
In a declaration following a meeting in Istanbul, the D-8 members—Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey—also demanded that all countries stop supplying weapons and ammunition to Israel.
Last month, the UN General Assembly supported Palestine’s bid for full UN membership, recognizing its qualifications to join and recommending that the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably.”
This push for full UN membership comes amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as well as Israel’s expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the UN deems illegal.
With the Palestinian death toll in Gaza exceeding 36,000 and a humanitarian crisis engulfing the enclave, human rights groups and critics have faulted the US for providing weapons to Israel and largely defending Israel’s actions.
On Saturday, the Israeli military reported rescuing four hostages who were seized by Hamas during the October 7 attack, in which Israel stated 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted.
A Palestinian health official reported that at least 50 Palestinians were killed on Saturday in Israeli attacks on Nuseirat and other areas of central Gaza.
Gaza death toll surpasses 8,000 as Israel continues to bomb Palestinians