TEHRAN – In a heartfelt message on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Ali Baqeri Kani, reached out to his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, expressing hopes for peace and unity within the Islamic community.

Baqeri Kani's message, sent on Monday, extended warm congratulations to the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan. The Iranian diplomat underscored the importance of this significant holiday as a time for reflection and collective action within the Muslim world.

Baqeri Kani articulated his hope that "with the blessings of this great and auspicious Eid, and by utilizing divine teachings and mutual efforts, the Islamic community will witness an end to war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip, and see strengthened unity and increasing solidarity." 

The acting Foreign Minister emphasized that Eid al-Adha is not only a period for celebration but also a time for the Muslim community to come together in pursuit of common goals. He stressed that this holiday should serve as a reminder of the shared responsibilities of Islamic countries to promote justice, peace, and solidarity.

Previously, Baqeri Kani had sent similar messages to the foreign ministers of various Islamic nations, reiterating his view that Eid al-Adha provides a valuable opportunity to bolster solidarity among Muslim countries. He emphasized the necessity of working together to advance common ideals and achieve global justice and peace.

Israel initiated its current offensive against Gaza on October 7, following a surprise attack by Palestinian Resistance movements, named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm which came as an answer to years of Israeli wrongdoings in the occupied territories. This offensive has heavily targeted hospitals, homes, and places of worship, leading to widespread destruction.

Alongside the military campaign, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on the coastal enclave, severely restricting the supply of essential goods such as food, medicine, electricity, and water. This blockade has drastically affected the Palestinian population's ability to access basic necessities.

The conflict has been devastating, resulting in the deaths of at least 37,337 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children. An additional 85,299 have been injured, and over 1.7 million people have been internally displaced.

Currently, Israeli attacks are concentrated in the central region of Gaza. A month ago, Israeli forces advised Palestinians from Rafah to evacuate to this area, designating it as a safe zone. As a result, over one million Palestinians relocated to Nuseirat, Deir el-Balah, and other central locations. However, these areas are now also under attack.

The Gaza Government Media Office has issued warnings about the severe lack of aid, including food, nutritional supplements, and vaccines, which puts 3,500 children at risk of dying from malnutrition. 

The offensive has severely crippled Gaza's health sector. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the conflict has reduced the enclave’s clinical capacity by 70 percent. Consequently, Gaza is increasingly relying on field hospitals, which often lack basic services, to treat patients who cannot find spots in the remaining hospitals.

This dire situation highlights the urgent need for international intervention to address the humanitarian crisis and bring an end to the violence affecting countless innocent lives.