Context: Member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) have called on the U.N. Human Rights Council to set up a permanent commission to report on human rights violations in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

• But India had abstained on the resolution that calls on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to set up a permanent commission to probe human rights violations in Gaza, West Bank and Palestine.

About the proposed Commission

• A special session of the council was held to address the grave human rights situation in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem. 
• The meeting was sought by Pakistan, as the OIC’s coordinator.
• A vote on the draft resolution was held which was largely virtual. 
• The draft resolution calls on the council to urgently establish an ongoing independent, international commission of inquiry appointed by the council president to investigate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Israel and Palestinian areas.
• The commission would also investigate all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict including discrimination and repression.
• A commission of inquiry (COI) is the highest level of scrutiny that the council can authorize. 
• The special session is the 30th at the council, and the ninth on the issue of the Occupied Palestinian Territories alone, the last was in May 2018. 
• The council’s most recent special session on Myanmar was held in February, 2021.

Why India had abstained to set up permanent commission?

• India abstained along with 13 others, including France, Japan, Nepal, Brazil and South Korea.
• India did not give an explanation of its vote at the virtual session whereas other member states which voted against or abstained cited the expansive nature of the mandate given to the Commission of Inquiry.
• India reiterated that none of the parties should attempt the “unilaterally change the existing status-quo, including in East Jerusalem and its neighbourhoods”.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

• It is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents.
• The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world.
• It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
• The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco in September 1969 following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
• In 1970, the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s secretary general.
• The first OIC Charter was adopted by the 3rd ICFM Session held in 1972. 
• The Charter laid down the objectives and principles of the organization and fundamental purposes to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the Member States.
• The present Charter of the OIC was adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008.
• The Ten-Year Program of Action (2016-2025) has been launched by OIC to face the challenges of the 21st century and focuses on 18 priority areas with 107 goals.