United Nations, July 18 (RHC)-- Iran’s acting foreign minister has called for immediate decisive action by the United Nations Security Council to bring Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza to a halt.  Ali Baqeri Kani made the remarks as he was addressing the Security Council in New York on Wednesday.

The Iranian minister highlighted the crimes of Israel in Gaza over the past nine months, which have resulted in the massacre of innocent people, mostly women and children.  “Over the past 285 days, the Israeli-occupying regime has been committing extensive international crimes in Gaza. This regime, through a campaign of brutality and terror, continues to massacre innocent people, mostly women and children.”

The Iranian foreign minister said approximately 20 people are killed or injured every hour in Gaza, with over 80% of residential areas and all infrastructure, including hospitals, mosques, churches, educational centers, and historical sites, destroyed. 

Baqeri Kani said the Israeli regime has also weaponized starvation by blocking aid routes and attacking refugee camps and displaced people.  “Despite the global condemnation of the genocide and war crimes committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza and the unanimous and united call of the international community for an immediate end to the genocide … the Zionist regime continues its brutal crimes with full impunity.”

The Iranian minister was pointing to the adoption of four UN Security Council resolutions and three provisional measures asked by the International Court of Justice.

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

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

Baqeri Kani also called for Security Council action to press Israel to “immediately, fully, and unconditionally withdraw its military and security forces from Gaza.”

Israel, the Iranian minister added, must also be pressed by the Council to “lift the siege of Gaza, stop the forced displacement of people, halt illegal settlement activities, and provide full and immediate compensation for all damages inflicted on the people, infrastructure, residential areas in Gaza.”

Furthermore, the international community and competent international organizations must ensure that all the commanders, perpetrators, and supporters of Israel’s crimes in Gaza and other Palestinian territories are prosecuted and punished, he said.   “The only way to restore peace is to put an immediate, complete, and permanent end to the occupation, aggression, and crimes committed by this regime.”

“The Security Council has the responsibility to achieve this goal, and, regrettably, the inaction and inability of the Security Council over the past nearly 80 years has emboldened the Israeli regime to commit more crimes against the oppressed people of Palestine.”

In his remarks, Baqeri Kani warned against any aggressive actions by Israel towards Lebanon, describing the regime’s potential expansion of the conflict to Lebanon as a dangerous miscalculation that could exacerbate regional instability.  “Recently, the warmongering leaders of this regime have been under the illusion that expanding the war to Lebanon can save them from the quagmire of Gaza. This is an absurd and dangerous miscalculation and exacerbates the already chaotic situation in this sensitive region to spiral out of control.”

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

“In this chamber and from this podium, I would like to strongly warn against any adventurous action by this rogue regime and its consequences.”  He highlighted the responsibility of the United States as Israel’s main supporter, suggesting that Washington must move to contain Israel’s threat.

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