TEHRAN- The recent resolution passed by the UN Security Council to increase humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip has been characterized by Iran as a “positive but insufficient step” toward alleviating the dire needs of the beleaguered Palestinians residing in the region.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Saturday, “It is very regrettable that after 77 days of frenzied attacks by the Zionist regime against defenseless people in the Gaza Strip, the U.S. administration still prevents the adoption of a binding resolution in the Security Council to stop the war, war crimes and genocide of the Zionist regime in Gaza.”

He stated that sending supplies to Gaza is nearly difficult due to the continued Israeli bombardment and military operations in Gaza for the past 77 days, which have damaged more than 60% of residential buildings and urban infrastructure.

Kanaani said remarks by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres following the vote also attest to this bitter reality.

He added, “The adoption of Resolution 2720 does not absolve the UN Security Council of its responsibilities. The U.S. administration is still primarily responsible for the continuation of brutal attacks and war crimes by the Israeli regime against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.”

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday about the continuous Israeli assault on Gaza. The resolution called for greater humanitarian supplies to be sent to the besieged region, but it did not demand an immediate end to the massacre.  

All parties to the conflict were required under the watered-down resolution to provide the “safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale.”

It did not, however, demand that hostilities halt right away; instead, it asked for the establishment of “conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”

The vote in the 15-member council was 13-0 with the United States and Russia abstaining.

Tehran hosting international conference on Palestine

Separately, Kanaani said that the international conference on Palestine held in Tehran on Saturday aimed to express solidarity for the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip and compel the Israeli regime to cease its horrific offensive against the coastal sliver.

He also noted that the one-day event attracted government leaders, notable political and religious personalities, academics, and media activists from more than 50 nations.

According to Kanaani, the participants were expected to consider strategies to mobilize support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, put pressure on the Tel Aviv regime to halt its military attacks on Gaza and lift the blockade on the enclave, and accelerate the flow of international humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

The spokesperson also underlined that the meeting is a component of the Islamic Republic’s ongoing diplomatic initiatives to back the resistance of the Palestinian people.

“An immediate end to the apartheid Zionist regime’s war crimes and genocide of the oppressed Palestinian nation is a demand made by all right-seekers, advocates of justice, and awakened human consciences across the world,” Kanaani underscored.

On Thursday at the Ancient Civilizations Forum in Tehran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian urged nations with centuries-old customs and civilizations to band together to put an end to Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip and bring Israeli authorities to account for war crimes.

He also called the situation in Gaza “distressing” and condemned Israel’s seven-decade occupation and seizure of Palestinian lands.

In addition, he denounced the self-styled human rights advocates for remaining silent in the face of the horrors and brutalities brought about by the fake Israeli regime.

Additionally, Amir Abdollahian blasted Israel’s deliberate demolition of Gaza’s historical landmarks as well as its efforts to obliterate the Old City of al-Quds’ Islamic identity.

“Countries with ancient civilizations are expected to condemn such crimes, and utilize all means at their disposal to stop the current situation and put war criminals on trial at an international court of law,” the Iranian minister pointed out.

He also urged governments to play their part in maintaining the civilized, cultural, and religious interaction and understanding among nations by criminalizing and punishing such actions. 

He denounced the recent desecration of the Holy Quran and other religious scriptures in some European countries.

According to Amir Abdollahian, it is the duty of nations with rich cultural and historical backgrounds to refute ideas of supremacy, dominance, exclusivity, and racism.

He emphasized that the discourse of dominance and aggression, the instrumentalization of international ideals, and the application of double standards continue to have negative effects on the international community.

At least 20,057 individuals were killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s unrelenting bombardment, the majority of them were women and children. 53,320 more people have also sustained injuries.

According to experts, the Israeli military operation in Gaza is currently regarded as one of the deadliest and most destructive in the past few decades.