Iran: Israeli crimes in Palestine, Lebanon ‘shameful tragedy’
Israel should respect Iran’s sovereignty, refrain from aggression: MBS
Iran’s vice president called the crimes committed by the Israeli regime in the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon “a shameful tragedy” which is the result of the “feeling of impunity” of the criminals who are supported by some Western countries.
Mohammad Reza Aref made the remarks in an address to the joint Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Saudi Arabia on Monday, which focused on Israel’s ongoing genocidal wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Aref said the reluctance and inability of the United Nations and other so-called human rights institutions to stop the genocide of Palestinians is a clear sign of indifference to the killing of more than 50,000 innocent people with the political, financial and military support of the United States.
He said that all the Muslim and Arab countries have a moral duty and responsibility not to remain silent in the face of one of the worst evils left over from the last century, namely the bloody occupation of the Palestinian land and the ongoing displacement and genocide of a nation.
The Iranian official described the US as the main supporter of Israel’s actions against the innocent people of Gaza and Lebanon.
The vice president said that the compromise on the terrorist acts of Israel “invalidates all the rules and norms of peaceful co-habitation.”
He considered the mechanisms of the UN and the Security Council to be unable to end the genocide of the Palestinians and the mass killing of the Lebanese people due to the unconditional support of the US and several Western governments for occupying regime.
Referring to the heavy responsibility of Islamic and Arab countries on the issue, Aref called for a decisive decision and collective action in order to end the Israeli crimes.
Since October 2023, Israel has launched a devastating war on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. The Israel’s wars have claimed more than 34,000 people in Gaza and over 3,000 people in Lebanon.
‘Respect for Iran’s sovereignty’
Addressing the summit, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman demanded that Israel immediately stop its military aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.
The crown prince, also known as MBS, condemned the “massacre committed against Palestinian and Lebanese people”.
He urged Israel “to refrain from any further act of aggression” and called on countries around the world to recognize Palestinian statehood.
The Saudi crown prince also called on the Israeli regime to respect Iran’s sovereignty and refrain from attacking Iranian soil.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League, also joined MBS in condemning Israel’s military operation in Gaza and Lebanon, saying that “words cannot express the plight of the Palestinian people.”
“The actions taken by Israel against the Palestinian people are undermining efforts to achieve lasting peace. It is only with justice that we will be able to establish lasting peace,” Aboul Gheit said.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who also addressed the summit, warned that his country was suffering an “unprecedented” crisis that threatens its existence.