It is time to boycott Israel by all nations: Momen

Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Momen has said it is time to boycott Israel and its products by all nations and faiths, particularly Muslim Ummah and people of honour and human dignity.

"This butchery must stop and stop forever," he said while speaking at the 8th Extraordinary Islamic Summit in Riyadh on Saturday, according to a message issued Sunday.

The Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit was held to discuss the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

The foreign minister said the situation in Gaza is not only a classic example of ethnic cleansing but also genocide by a state power assisted by leaders of the free world and proponents of human rights, humanitarian laws and all moral and ethical values.

"Hold Israel leaderships accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity," he said, adding that the killing of innocent civilians, and clearing of areas through barbaric means, has created an environment of terror.

"Such acts need to be punished so that once and for all the ongoing conflict in Gaza ends and all captives must be released so that people can start living peacefully in their own land," he said.

The Israel-Gaza war is not a war at all. It is, in fact, barbaric and collective punishment and killing of a captive group of innocent men and women and especially children who cannot be combatants, he said.

"Bangladesh supports and stands strong by our Palestinian brothers and sisters' right to self-determination, sovereignty and independence," he said adding that Bangladesh called for an immediate ceasefire in the war of Israel against Palestine.

Momen said it is destroying cities and towns, hopes and aspirations of a nation, and calculated deprivation of an occupied people of their rights - to food, shelter, water, essential medicines, fuel and electricity, and of course, a decent life.

"Israel must stop killing women and children and end occupation," he said.

Momen said a humanitarian corridor needs to be kept open for a continuous, rapid and safe supply of food, water, medicine and other lifesaving materials to the residents of Gaza.

"We should revisit the implementation process of all our agreed decisions at the UN, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Road Map," he said adding that there should be a clear timeline to have a two-state solution.

Momen said the unity of the Muslim Ummah is imperative to end the crisis.

/KN/