Iran President raps some Muslim states for silence on Gaza

Speaking at a government meeting on Wednesday, Hassan Rouhani expressed regret that certain regional Arab countries have kept silent on Israel’s atrocities, while certain Muslim states have simply chosen to turn a blind eye and some others have even stated that the regime “legitimately defended itself.”

Israeli military forces killed over 60 Palestinians and wounded over 2,700 more on Monday during anti-occupation protests near the fence separating Gaza from the occupied territories, at a time when Israeli and American officials were attending the inauguration of the new US embassy in the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.

Rouhani argued that legitimate defense is only the right of a country or a nation that owns a land, but that the Zionist regime has no such right to occupied territory.

“On this land, 'legitimate defense by the Zionists' makes no sense," Rouhani said, noting that it is instead the Palestinian nation that is fighting for its land there.

“The Zionist regime and the United States assume that by exercising more pressure, they can deny the Palestinian nation its legitimate right or can separate the world’s Muslims from their [holy] land of al-Quds,” the president said. “They are making a great mistake."

The inauguration ceremony for the American embassy was purposely chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the day Israel was created after a deadly war against Arab nations in 1948.

“The Palestinian people have resisted [Israeli aggression] for 70 years, and will continue to do so,” Rouhani said.

/SR