TEHRAN- The National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) condemned the inhumane and anti-cultural actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza, in a statement published on Wednesday.

“The recent act of aggression by the illegitimate, rootless, and occupier Zionist regime against the National Archive and Central Library in Gaza, which housed thousands of historical documents and ancient books spanning over 150 years, is a heinous crime,” reads part of the statement. 

“The regime's objective is to attack the culture and historical heritage of the Palestinian people in Gaza, as well as other Islamic lands. This invaluable and irreplaceable repository is an integral part of the history and culture of the Palestinian people. Sadly, with the damage inflicted upon this center, many historical documents and artifacts, as well as plans for the preservation of ancient and historically valuable structures, have been lost,” it added. 

This act once again reveals the barbaric, criminal, and inhumane nature of the Zionist regime to the world, it concluded. 

On October 7, Israel started a deadly war on Gaza after the territory’s Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, launched a surprise retaliation strike against the occupying regime, codenamed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.

The Israeli regime's offensive has claimed the lives of nearly 18,000 individuals in Gaza, with a significant majority being women and children. Furthermore, over 49,000 people have suffered injuries as a result.

Israeli officials, including the prime minister, have made public statements endorsing or pledging to carry out acts of genocide against Palestinians throughout the course of this conflict. These alarming declarations have raised serious concerns regarding the protection of human rights and the safety of the Palestinian population.

Tel Aviv has also imposed severe restrictions on essential resources such as water, power, and gasoline in one of the world's most densely populated areas. This deprivation has resulted in a scarcity of medical supplies and food, leaving 2.3 million Palestinians at risk of starvation.

SAB/