Iran calls on UN Security Council to stop genocide in Gaza

Iran’s acting foreign minister called on the UN Security Council to take immediate, decisive action to end Israel’s genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Ali Baqeri Kani made these remarks in his speech to the Security Council in New York on Wednesday.

The Iranian minister highlighted Israel’s crimes in Gaza over the past nine months, which have led to the massacre of innocent people, especially women and children.

“Over the past 285 days, the Israeli occupation regime in Gaza has committed numerous international crimes. This regime continues to massacre innocent people, especially women and children, in a campaign of brutality and terror.”

The Iranian Foreign Minister said that about 20 people were killed or injured every hour in Gaza. Over 80 percent of residential areas and all infrastructure, including hospitals, mosques, churches, educational centers and historical sites, had been destroyed.

Baqeri Kani said the Israeli regime also uses hunger as a weapon by blocking aid routes and attacking refugee camps and displaced people.

“Despite the worldwide condemnation of the genocide and war crimes committed by the Israeli regime in the Gaza Strip and the unanimous and common call of the international community for an immediate end to the genocide… the Zionist regime continues its brutal crimes with complete impunity.”

The Iranian minister referred to the adoption of four UN Security Council resolutions and three interim measures requested by the International Court of Justice.

Baqeri Kani proposed adopting a comprehensive and legally binding resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter calling on Israel to end its genocide.

“We call on the Security Council to take the necessary measures … to compel the Israeli regime to immediately and unconditionally end the genocide and aggression against Gaza, implement a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and open border crossings for the rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance.”

Baqeri Kani also called on the Security Council to put pressure on Israel to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its military and security forces from Gaza.”

The Iranian minister added that the Council must also put pressure on Israel to “lift the siege on Gaza, end the forced displacement of people, stop illegal settlement activity and pay full and immediate compensation for all damage inflicted on the population, infrastructure and residential areas in the Gaza Strip.”

In addition, the international community and relevant international organizations must ensure that all commanders, perpetrators and supporters of Israel’s crimes in the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian territories are prosecuted and punished, he said.

“The only way to restore peace is to end the occupation, aggression and crimes of this regime immediately, completely and permanently.”

“The Security Council has a responsibility to achieve this goal and, unfortunately, the Security Council’s inaction and incompetence over the past nearly 80 years has encouraged the Israeli regime to commit further crimes against the oppressed people of Palestine.”

Israel warned against attacks on Lebanon

In his remarks, Baqeri Kani warned against any aggressive actions by Israel towards Lebanon and described a possible expansion of the conflict to Lebanon by the regime as a dangerous miscalculation that could exacerbate instability in the region.

“Recently, the warmongering leadership of this regime has indulged in the illusion that expanding the war to Lebanon can rescue them from the Gaza mess. This is an absurd and dangerous miscalculation and is worsening the already chaotic situation in this sensitive region until it spirals out of control.”

The Iranian diplomat said any attack on Lebanon would be met with a “decisive and disappointing” response in the region and the international community.

“In this room and from this podium, I would like to urgently warn against any adventurous actions of this rogue regime and their consequences.”

He stressed the responsibility of the United States as Israel’s main supporter and said Washington must take measures to contain the threat posed by Israel.

“It is obvious that the responsibility of the United States as a strategic ally and the main supporter of the regime in the region cannot be denied in the face of possible aggression by the regime against Lebanon.”