TEHRAN –The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has corresponded with the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as the red crescent societies of Egypt, Russia, Iraq, and Jordan to assist people in Gaza in any possible way.

In the 158th session of the Supreme Council of the Red Crescent Society, Pir-hossein Kolivand, the head of the IRCS, elaborated on the activities of the IRCS in supporting the oppressed people of Gaza, IRNA reported.

He added the IRCS has conducted national and international follow-ups since the very beginning of the conflict in Gaza.

Kolivand went on to say that a video conference meeting was also held with 86 national societies and the violation of humanitarian laws was explained in the meeting. Finally, it was decided to declare the Zionist regime criminal for violating human rights in Gaza through international forums.

Iran ready to send humanitarian aid to Gaza

There are some reports confirming that Israeli authorities have asked Egyptian officials to refuse the 60 tons of humanitarian assistance that Iran had delivered to the Northeast African country to be sent to the beleaguered Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing.

On November 12, Bashir Haji-Beigi, a spokesman for the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, said, "In cooperation with the Red Crescent Society, we are ready to set up a blood transfusion center equipped with laboratories and storage units in Palestine."

Some 730 billion rials (around $1.5 million) in humanitarian aid was collected from October 9 until November 8 for people in Gaza through a campaign launched by the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The campaign aimed to raise funds to help the oppressed people of Gaza is still ongoing, ISNA quoted Vahid Salimi, an official with the IRCS, as saying on November 8.

He went on to say, “From the beginning of the official call for the campaign, more than 730 billion rials (almost $1.5 m) have been deposited by people into the official accounts of the Red Crescent Society.”

“Simultaneously, in addition to air cargo, a ship carrying humanitarian aid has been sent to Gaza with the cooperation of the Red Crescent Society of Hormozgan province from Shahid Rajaei port. Other shipments are being loaded in this port,” he added.

On November 7, Iran expressed readiness to provide the people of Gaza with humanitarian aid via Egypt amid a massive humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli war against the Palestinian enclave. 

The announcement was made in a phone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.

Also, on November 3, the IRCS called the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate the process of dispatching humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Razieh Alishvandi, the IRCS director for international affairs, met with Vincent Cassard, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Iran.

The International Committee of the Red Cross should seriously intervene in the clear violation of international humanitarian law and condemn the Zionist regime's airstrikes in the Gaza Strip since it has violated many cases of the four Geneva Conventions, Alishvandi said, IRCS website reported.

Alishvandi stressed, “A safe way should be found to send relief supplies to this country. Iran's humanitarian shipments should reach the people of Gaza as soon as possible.”

A consignment weighing 20,000 tons is being prepared to be sent to Gaza from Iran, and we request the International Committee of the Red Cross to follow up on obtaining the necessary permits from the Egyptian government to send these shipments, she stated.

“Moreover, the Iranian Red Crescent Society is ready to provide medical services to the wounded and treat them by establishing three mobile hospitals along with sending experienced medical staff to Egypt (Palestine border).”

Intl. Day of Solidarity with Palestinians

In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine.

This year the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) will hold a Special Meeting to commemorate the event in the ECOSOC Chamber at UNHQ in New York.  Events to commemorate Solidarity Day will also be held at other UN venues worldwide.

The International Day of Solidarity provides an opportunity for the international community to refocus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine remains unresolved and that the Palestinian people are yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely, the right to self-determination, the right to national independence and sovereignty and the right of return of the refugees.

MT/ MG