Staff Reporter:
During the special session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers in Istanbul, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Ali Arafat, proposed the creation of a united digital platform to counter disinformation campaigns by Israel against Palestine.
The session, illuminated by a video message from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, witnessed contributions from key figures including OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha and Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Abu Rudeineh. The gathering, focused on ‘The Israeli Occupation Authority’s Disinformation and Hostility against Journalists and Media Outlets in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’ brought together information ministers from OIC member states, with 25 ministers delivering addresses.
Highlighting the grave situation, Arafat emphasized the urgent need for collaborative efforts to spotlight Israeli attacks on journalists and combat the spread of false information about Palestine. He urged the OIC Secretariat to develop a plan for a digital platform that would serve as a repository of documented war crimes by Israel, suggesting the organization could also offer training to counter disinformation.
Arafat criticized Israel’s systematic spread of misleading news to obscure its violations of international law in Gaza, including targeting non-combatants and activists. He called for a unified stance from the Muslim Ummah to halt these atrocities and reveal the truth to the world, affirming Bangladesh’s solidarity with Palestine.
The State Minister outlined a seven-point recommendation agenda, calling for an immediate cessation of conflict in Palestine, establishment of a humanitarian corridor to Gaza, accountability for Israel’s war crimes, and a reevaluation of peace initiatives. He advocated for a united Muslim front on Palestine, condemnation of Israel’s disinformation efforts, and the urgent establishment of the OIC Media Forum to further these goals.
