Mottaki told reporters that Arab and Western leaders on Tuesday held a meeting on the ongoing Israeli assaults on Gazans. He said the meeting focused on efforts to end the Israeli operation in the coastal territory and push for Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the opening of all border crossings to Gaza.
Eighteen days of Israeli strikes on Gaza has claimed the lives of about 900 Palestinians and wounded hundreds of others.
Mottaki said a delegation from Organization of the Islamic Conference plan to visit Tehran to discuss the situation in the Middle East, but they have yet to specify the date of the trip.
He said the Arab League is also trying to hold its delayed meeting on Gaza.
Mottaki stated that Iran has sent some humanitarian aid to Gaza by air but new aid shipments have not yet been allowed into the territory. Iran has also sent a ship carrying medicine and food to Gaza which is at the moment in waters between Gaza and Egypt, he said.
The foreign minister said the ship is trying to moor in Gaza port to deliver the aid directly to the violence-hit Gazans.
Mottaki said he has written a letter to Egyptian foreign minister, urging Cairo to transfer the wounded Gazans to Iran or allow the Islamic Republic to set up a hospital on the Egypt-Gaza border to help the victims of Israeli incursions.
He said Iran is awaiting Cairo’s response to the request.
The foreign minister said Iran is also planning to urge Arab states to sever diplomatic relations with Israel. Mauritania and Venezuela have already expelled Israeli envoys which would pressure Israel to end attacks on Gaza, he stated.
BA/PA
END
MNA
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