Arab League Secretary General Nabil Fahmy met with Ismail Al-Sheikh Ahmad, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting took place on September 21, 2026, and focused on the escalating situation in the Middle East. Fahmy congratulated Al-Sheikh Ahmad on his new role and wished him success in leading the OIC.
The two officials discussed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the increasing Israeli violations in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. They agreed that these developments undermine efforts to achieve peace in the region. Fahmy emphasized the need for enhanced Arab and Islamic coordination on the international stage to compel Israel to comply with international law.
Fahmy and Al-Sheikh Ahmad also reviewed preparations for a joint Arab League and OIC ministerial meeting on Jerusalem, scheduled for September 25, 2026, in New York. The meeting aims to bolster joint efforts to defend the city's holy sites and reject any attempts to alter its legal and historical status. The two officials also discussed various issues of mutual interest.
The Arab League Secretary General stressed the importance of building on recent international recognitions of the Palestinian state, with the goal of ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Fahmy and Al-Sheikh Ahmad agreed on the need for a unified Arab and Islamic stance in international forums.
Fahmy and Al-Sheikh Ahmad reviewed developments on various issues of common concern, including the situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. They emphasized the need for sustained international attention to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
In conclusion, Fahmy highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination between the Arab League and the OIC, with the aim of promoting shared interests and achieving a unified Arab and Islamic voice in international forums. The two officials reaffirmed their commitment to working together to address the challenges facing the region.
The meeting between Fahmy and Al-Sheikh Ahmad reflects the ongoing efforts of the Arab League and the OIC to coordinate on key issues affecting the Middle East region. The two organizations have a long history of cooperation on issues related to Palestine and Jerusalem, and their joint efforts have helped to raise international awareness of the challenges facing the region.
Key points
- The Arab League and OIC are working together to promote a unified Arab and Islamic stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- The two organizations are coordinating on preparations for a joint ministerial meeting on Jerusalem, scheduled for September 25, 2026.
- Fahmy and Al-Sheikh Ahmad emphasized the need for sustained international attention to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
