Upon beginning his speech at the emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Riyadh, Raisi slammed Israel’s brutal aggression against Gaza, saying the regime is currently committing the “most heinous crimes” in the history of humanity.
He said the OIC can act as a unifying body which helps Islamic bodies take a cohesive action against Israel. “Realizing this important fact, The Islamic Republic of Iran has decided to warmly embrace Islamic nations based on a policy of good neighborliness and regional unity,” the president stressed.
Raisi cautioned regional leaders about the urgency the Islamic world is facing today. “Today is the day of action,” he said, adding that regional states must muster up all they have to defend the holy Al-Aqsa mosque.
“What has happened in the past five weeks in Gaza and parts of the West Bank is a historic source of shame for ethics, law, and humanity. Gaza is oppressed but heroic; wounded but proud; for the past two decades, due to a complete naval, land, and aerial blockade, it has been known as the largest open-air prison,” Raisi said noting that despite all that’s happened to them, Palestinians in Gaza have managed to stand up to the oppressive Israeli regime with bare hands.
The Iranian official highlighted that Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign against the strip is in violation of international law. He pointed out how the regime has been using white phosphorus bombs and other prohibited weapons, in its deliberate targeting of civilian areas.
So far, more than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israeli attacks, with thousands of children among the dead. It is estimated that some 3,000 civilians are also stuck under the rubble, with chances of rescue running thin.
“The even greater tragedy is that the number of people losing their lives due to a lack of access to medicine and the spread of diseases in the face of the Zionist regime’s brutal siege is increasing,” Raisi added.
The Iranian president added that the U.S. is Israel’s biggest partner in crime.
“America encouraged the Zionist regime to carry out criminal operations against the defenseless people of Gaza and called it a legitimate defense; the claim of legitimate defense by the occupying forces who are always invading the rights of Palestinians is one of the bitter ironies of history which is incompatible with any of the established legal rules and international standards,” he stated.
Raisi listed how the U.S. has been helping Israel in its callous war against Gaza, which includes the dispatchment of troops and military equipment to the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean, provision of deadly weapons to the regime, and prevention of any efforts towards a ceasefire in the UN Security Council.
“The most destructive role is that of America. All evils are under the Americans' control. The slaughter of millions of people around the world, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and other Islamic countries is under America's control. America has been igniting this conflict by disabling all international organizations in the world,” the president said.
The Iranian president also suggested that a referendum should be held in Palestine with the participation of all people residing between the river and the sea. He said every Palestinian Muslim, Jew, and Christian should be allowed to take part in the referendum, which he suggested would put a democratic end to the decades-long conflict in Palestine.
He ended his speech by proposing a set of solutions to resolve the crisis in Gaza. The proposed solutions are as follows:
1- Putting an end to the massacre of the people of Gaza and blind attacks on civilians
2- Complete lifting of the humanitarian blockade of Gaza and immediate and unconditional reopening of the Rafah border crossing with cooperation of Egypt
3- Immediate withdrawal of the military of the Zionist regime from Gaza
4- Cutting off any political and economic ties with the Zionist regime
5- Recognition of the military of Israel as a terrorist organization
6- Establishment of an international court to prosecute and punish the criminal leaders of Israel and the U.S.
7- Funding the reconstruction of Gaza
8- Sending humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza from various Islamic countries
9- Naming the day of the bombing of Arab Al-Ahli Hospital as the day of genocide in member countries’ official calendars
10- Arming the people of Gaza, if Israel’s relentless crimes and Washington’s support for the regime’s conduct continue
'Immediate cessation of Gaza war'
Addressing leaders from the Arab League and the OIC, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called for the immediate end of Israel’s war on the besieged Gaza Strip.
“We are certain the only cause for peace is the end of the Israeli occupation and illegal settlements, and restoration of the established rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of the Palestinian state on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the Saudi crown prince said.
Bin Salman also pointed out the failure of the UN Security Council and other international bodies in preventing a full-scale humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Qatar Emir condemns international inaction
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani criticized international organizations and governments around the world for sitting idly by in the face of the Palestinian people’s suffering and giving Israel carte blanche to do whatever it wants.
“What is taking place in Gaza is a real threat at all levels. These are unprecedented events. How come the bombardment of hospitals becomes an ordinary attack under the false allegations that there are tunnels and military installations underneath?” the emir asked.
He also condemned people and states worldwide for failing to comply with international law while posturing as defenders of human rights.
'Region could spiral into major conflict'
Jordan’s King Abdullah II decided to warn the world about the prospects of a regional war in the face of unabating Israeli crimes.
“We convene today for Gaza and its people as they continue to face death and destruction in an ugly war that must stop immediately, or our region will spiral into a major conflict whose price innocent people from both sides will pay, and whose repercussions will affect the whole world,” the king warned.
He also pointed out that Israel’s oppression against Palestinians did not begin on October 7, clarifying that the Israeli regime’s crimes began over seven decades ago and are still ongoing.
Assad urges halt to political process with Israel
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told regional leaders that any political process with the Israeli regime should be halted.
He stated that the Palestinian situation has become more unjust and oppressive due to the alleged peace process with the Israeli occupation.
He emphasized the significance of collective action to stop the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people.
He also noted that the West’s unequivocal support for Israel has enabled the regime to vastly violate international law. He urged countries participating in the summit to address Israeli crimes by working in unity.
'Israel acting like West’s spoiled child'
Also attending the summit, the president of Turkey condemned Western governments for their unfaltering support towards Israel, saying the regime is now acting like a “spoiled child of the West”.
“It is a shame that Western countries, which always talk about human rights and freedom, have remained silent on the massacre in Palestine,” said Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He said the world is now facing unprecedented barbarism in history, expressing shock over the bombing of hospitals, schools, and other civilian sites in Gaza.
“We believe that a fund should be established within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to rebuild Gaza,” the president proposed.
Iraq calls for 'serious action' on Gaza war
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid strongly condemned the explicit violations of international laws, especially the bombing of non-military facilities and hospitals in the course of the war on Gaza.
He called for serious action by the international community to put an end to the deadly attacks.
He noted that the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza aim to expel Palestinians from their lands, Judaize Palestinian areas, and implement policies of racial discrimination and settlement expansion, adding that all those moves are in no way acceptable.
The President of Iraq added that his country has always attached great significance to the Palestinian issue.
'displacement of Gaza's residents must be prevented'
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi demanded an immediate, unconditional, and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza as well as a halt to the forced displacement of Palestinians to any location inside or outside their territory.
Israel and the U.S. have reportedly been pressuring Egypt to take in the 2.3 million population of the Gaza Strip and settle them in the Sinai Peninsula. Cairo has strongly opposed such requests.
During the Arab-Islamic summit, Sisi also slammed the ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip and the "brutal killing and besiegement of the people of Gaza and the inhumane actions suffered by them."
Lebanon attends summit after suffering casualties
Lebanon’s Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati also arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday to participate in the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit.
The Lebanese delegation to the summit also included caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib, caretaker Minister of Agriculture Abbas Hajj Hassan, Lebanese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Fawzi Kabbara, and Lebanese Ambassador to Egypt and the League of Arab States Ali Halabi.
Lebanon’s Resistance movement Hezbollah has been attacking Israeli positions in the occupied territories since October 8. It has so far lost dozens of soldiers in its latest fight against the regime.
By Sadegh Fereydounabadi
First Published by Tehran Times
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