TEHRAN – The Iranian government has strongly condemned an airstrike by Israel against a Christian hospital in the Gaza Strip that killed more than 500 people, mostly women and children.

With this crime, the Iranian government said, the Zionist regime accelerated its demise at the hands of Palestinians and Muslims in the region.

“The crime of the occupying Zionist regime in the brutal bombing of the Maamdani  hospital in oppressed Gaza, shocked the world and filled the conscience of every free person with pain and anger,” the Iranian government said in a statement.

The statement added, “With this crime, which is a clear example of a ‘war crime against humanity and genocide and the massacre of women, children and homeless patients,’ the Zionist regime depicted the height of its brutality and vileness and disregard for all human rules and principles. It showed its anti-human nature to everyone.”

It added, “Which person with conscience and which responsible government can remain silent in the face of such gross cruelty? The inaction of the international authorities towards this huge crime is a double injustice to the oppressed Palestinian people and a clear betrayal of humanity and human civilization.”

The statement continued, “While condemning this heinous crime in the strongest terms, the Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the international community and the United Nations to take immediate action to stop the crimes of the child-killing and racist Zionist regime. And it reminds the responsibility of each government, the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court to prosecute the leaders of the Zionist regime for committing heinous international crimes against the Palestinian people under the occupation.”

It said, “The Zionist occupation regime has committed countless crimes and atrocities since the day of the Nakba until today, but without a doubt, the crime of attacking a hospital full of innocent, wounded and sick women and children will be recorded as a turning point in the list of crimes against humanity by this regime.”

It further stated, “Islamic countries and all freedom-loving and independent governments and all international institutions should unite to provide comprehensive support for Palestine and popular resistance, and they should cut ties with the illegitimate and illegal Zionist regime and expel the ambassadors and representatives of this fake regime from countries and international institutions.”

The Iranian government noted, “With this crime, the Zionist regime brought its own end at the hands of the Muslim people of Palestine and the region, and this crime definitely will not go unanswered.”

The Iranian government also declared Wednesday a National Day of Mourning over the heinous crime by Israel in targeting the Christian hospital in Gaza.