Intl. community's inaction enables Israeli war crimes in Gaza: Iran
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Iran is still planning to retaliate against "Israel" for its assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, according to the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson.
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Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Nasser Kanaani speaks during a press conference in the capital Tehran on December 5, 2022. (AFP)
Iran considers that the inaction of the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, has allowed "Israel" to continue its genocidal war crimes against the people of Palestine.
"There is no doubt about the necessity of establishing a ceasefire [in Gaza]," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani told reporters during the weekly press conference on Monday, adding that, "The world is fed up with more than 10 months of acts of brutality and audacity of the Israeli regime and cannot accept this amount of crime anymore."
While Kanaani expressed the Islamic Republic’s wish for the establishment of a ceasefire to end the Israeli aggression in Gaza, and as one of the leading countries that used all its power to stop the occupation’s "killing machine," he emphasized his belief that the US is incompetent to mediate negotiations since it is "Israel's" top supporter.
He added that the Western country is not committed to preserving international security and peace.
"The US has so far proved that it is a party to the war and killing," Kanaani said.
The spokesperson reiterated Palestinian Resistance group Hamas' point of the occupation having no intention to implement a ceasefire in Gaza, asserting that the decision and responsibility rely on "Israel" and the US.
Anonymous Egyptian sources reported that indirect ceasefire negotiations between representatives from Hamas and the occupation will resume in Cairo on Wednesday and Thursday, mediated by delegates from Egypt, Qatar, and the US.
Iran rejects proposal to withdraw retaliation amid ceasefire talks
The Iranian diplomat rejected the Islamic Republic's termination of its retaliation attack for "Israel's" assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, emphasizing that the negotiations are separate from Iran's "legitimate and legal right to punish the aggressor."
Iranian political and military leaders, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, have pledged to avenge Haniyeh’s death.
"Iran’s response to the assassination of Martyr Haniyeh as an official guest of Iran and the issue of the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza are two separate issues," Kanaani said, adding, "We have been and are the strongest and most important regional and international supporter of the cessation of war and [establishment of] ceasefire and we still support any action in this regard."
Iran's criticism of the international community
The spokesperson reiterated Iran's right to defend its security and territorial integrity through legal means under the UN Charter, especially since "Israel's" assassination of Haniyeh violated international law.
"If the international community and the Security Council were able and had shown in practice that they have the necessary will and ability to maintain regional and international peace in the face of the Zionist regime, we would not have witnessed more than 10 months of crimes in Gaza," Kanaani said, criticizing the Security Council's failure to fulfill its duties in combatting "Israel" and its ongoing genocide.
Kanaani asserted that the existence of the Israeli occupation poses a threat to regional peace and security, especially since "Israel" "does not adhere to any international regulations."
Blinken: 'Decisive moment, last opportunity' for Gaza ceasefire
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Washington's recent efforts for the establishment of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip "probably the best, maybe the last opportunity", calling on all parties to allow the finalization of the deal, during his visit to "Israel" on Monday.
Reuters reported that Blinken plans on intensifying diplomatic pressure to ensure a breakthrough in negotiations, which are set to resume later this week in Cairo after last week's Doha round.
Ahead of his meeting with the Israeli occupation's president, Isaac Herzog, Blinken told reporters that the upcoming round of talks is a "decisive moment" and potentially the last opportunity to return the captives and implement a ceasefire "to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security."
"It is time for everyone to get to yes and to not look for any excuses to say no," he added.
