Iran’s Raisi calls for end to Israeli attacks on Gaza, closure of Israeli embassies

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN (AA) – Massive street rallies were taken out in Tehran and other major Iranian cities on Wednesday against the unrelenting Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, as Iran observed a day of public mourning.

The protests came a day after a hospital in central Gaza was attacked, killing hundreds of people, including patients and people displaced due to the grave humanitarian crisis in the coastal strip.

Palestinian groups have blamed Israel for the bombing but Israel has accused the Islamic Jihad group.

President Ebrahim Raisi, speaking to the crowd in central Tehran's Enghelab Square, condemned Israeli bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip, particularly Tuesday's hospital bombing.

He said Muslim countries expect the bombing campaign to “stop as soon as possible,” and he also called for an end to the siege of the territory that has spawned a humanitarian crisis there.

The president also called on Muslim countries to sever ties with Tel Aviv and close down the Israeli embassies in response to attacks on Palestinian civilians, including the bombing of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital.

Raisi said in recent phone conversations with leaders from various countries, he has emphasized the importance of immediately ending the bombardment of the Gaza Strip and opening border routes to provide aid and relief to the people of Gaza.

In the last week, Raisi has spoken on the phone with leaders of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Brazil, and others, with the situation in Palestine on the agenda.

He hastened to add that Iran expects Egypt's government, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Muslim World League (MWL) to aid the people of Gaza.

The president added that Israel is “getting closer to collapse with these crimes,” asserting that “every drop of blood shed of Palestinians” brings Tel Aviv “one step closer to its downfall.”

Israel has earned “general hatred” for its crimes against the people of Palestine, apart from its security failures, he said, referring to the Hamas-led “operation” last Saturday that took Tel Aviv by surprise.

He referred to the “occupation of Palestinian lands,” “construction of illegal settlements” and “disrespect to the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque” as reasons for Israel's global unpopularity.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke to the OIC meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and urged Muslim bloc members to impose an oil embargo and other sanctions on Israel.

At least 471 people were killed and 342 others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza late Tuesday, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Israel, however, has denied responsibility for the air raid.

Gaza is already experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out.

The conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has called for an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire” to ease the “epic human suffering.”

At least 3,478 Palestinians have so far been killed, while the figure stands at more than 1,400 people in Israel.