Int’l bodies must end silence on Gaza: Iran FM

Attending the Friday rallies marking International Quds Day in Tehran, Zarif said international organizations should not tarnish their own image further by remaining tight-lipped in the face of Israeli brutalities against the Palestinians residing in Gaza.

“These organizations should deal with such [Israeli] moves as war crimes, crimes against humanity and flagrant examples of inhumane actions,” added Zarif.

Commenting on Iran’s humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Zarif said Tehran is in contact with the Egyptian government to gain permission for the plane carrying Iranian aid supplies to fly into Gaza.

Iran’s humanitarian aid operations include sending medical supplies to Gazans and transferring the Palestinians wounded in Israeli attacks to the Islamic Republic for treatment, stated the Iranian foreign minister.

On Thursday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the first consignment of Iran’s relief aid for Gazans had been flown into Egypt and was currently waiting to be cleared for transfer into the Palestinian land via the Rafah border crossing.

Zarif made the comments as millions of Iranians flooded the streets nationwide to voice their support for the Palestinian resistance against Israel on International Quds Day, which falls on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Over the past 18 days, Israeli warplanes and tanks have been pounding numerous sites inside the Gaza Strip and killing innocent residents of the impoverished Palestinian enclave.

More than 816 Palestinians have so far been killed and over 5,200 wounded since the Israeli military first launched its onslaught on the Palestinian enclave on July 8.

HK