US, Germany are complicit in Gaza genocide: Iran MFA

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
16 Dec 2024 23:35

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused Washington and Berlin of defying international humanitarian law and neglecting their obligations to prevent and punish acts of genocide.

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A Palestinian boy sits atop the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on 7 December 2024. (AFP)

Iran's Foreign Ministry has accused the United States and Germany of being fully complicit in "Israel's" genocidal war on Palestinians in Gaza.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks in a post on X on Monday, citing statements by United Nations Special Rapporteur Ben Saul.

Saul had criticized Washington and Berlin for supplying "99% of the weapons [that are] exported to Israel," asserting that they "could stop" the war "overnight if they stopped the weapons that kill the Palestinians."

Baghaei echoed this sentiment, stating that ongoing arms transfers by the US and Germany have made them "fully complicit in Gaza Genocide."

Violations of International Law

Baghaei accused both countries of defying international humanitarian law and neglecting their obligations to prevent and punish acts of genocide.

"They must be held to account for their wrongful & criminal acts," he added.

بن سول، المقرر الخاص للأمم المتحدة:
"#ألمانيا و #أمريكا توفران 99% من الأسلحة المصدرة إلى #إسرائيل."

تستمر الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وألمانيا في إرسال الأسلحة إلى كيان الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، مما يجعلهما شريكتين في هذه #الإبادة_الجماعية. لقد أصبحتا بذلك شريكتين كاملتين في جريمة… pic.twitter.com/AgXq2mI7EF
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) December 16, 2024

Since the war began on October 7, 2023, the US has provided "Israel" with at least $12.5 billion in military assistance, including $3.8 billion from a March 2024 bill and $8.7 billion from a supplemental act in April 2024.

However, Brown University's Costs of War project revealed in October that the actual amount has exceeded $17.9 billion.

Germany has also ramped up arms exports to "Israel", with €94 million ($98 million) in approved sales since August 2024, compared to €45 million ($47 million) for the entire year up to October.

Civilian Casualties in Gaza

The war, which began after a retaliatory operation by Gaza's resistance movements against decades of Israeli occupation and aggression, has led to massive casualties in Gaza.

Over 45,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, have been killed since the war started.

While both the US and Germany have called on "Israel" to exercise restraint during the war, their continued arms support has drawn international criticism.

The UK has likewise faced criticism for its indirect arms sales to "Israel", with activists and human rights groups accusing it of enabling the ongoing war on Gaza.

Although British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the suspension of 30 out of 350 export licenses, citing concerns that the equipment could be used in violation of international humanitarian law in Gaza, several reports by Declassified UK and other media outlets have exposed loopholes that enable continued arms transfers.