Iranian President Hassan Rohani has condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and called on the United Nations to step in to end the “massacre and genocide” of Palestinians.
Speaking in Tehran at the meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement’s Ministerial Committee on Palestine, Rohani said the crisis in the Gaza Strip is being perpetuated by the silence of the international community and he accused the U.S. and the United Nations of turning a blind eye to the crimes committed in Gaza.
The attendees observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims in Gaza and spoke out against the “invasion” of Gaza through “the blatant massacre of civilians and destruction of civilian facilities including infrastructure, residential areas, hospitals, schools, mosques and even aid and media groups.”
In the opening speech, President Rohani drew attention to Israel’s refusal to allow delivery of humanitarian aid including food, drugs and medical equipment, and he condemned the UN for failing to speak out against Israel’s actions.
Meanwhile, as the current head of the Non-aligned Movement, President Rohani called on the members to use their international capacities and strengths to take an effective step to resolve the crisis.
He stressed that the continuation of the crisis is due to the international community’s silence about “the root of the conflict, the occupation of Palestinian land by the Zionist regime.” He added that Iran is using all available means to “end the oppression of Palestinians.”
Abbas Araghchi, the deputy foreign minister, told reporters that all of the meeting’s participants are calling for an end to the blockade on Gaza and the routes used to supply it.
