TEHRAN- The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) condemns the continuation of the Israeli regime’s brutal military operations against the defenseless people of Palestine, especially in Gaza.

Reading a statement on behalf of the NAM on Tuesday at the meeting of the special committee of the United Nations Charter, Zahra Ershadi, Iran’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized the urgent call for a humanitarian ceasefire and support for the people of Palestine. 

The movement expresses serious concern about the blatant genocide warnings in Gaza by the UN special rapporteurs and calls for commitment by the international community to prevent genocide in Gaza and take all necessary actions to end the ruthless massacre. 

NAM categorically denounced the Israeli regime’s continued brutal military operation against the defenseless Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip, she noted.

Ershadi continued by saying that NAM welcomes the request presented on December 29, 2023, by South Africa, a member country, to file a lawsuit against the Israeli regime at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for violations of obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide regarding Palestinians in Gaza. 

It also demands that Israel should put into effect a temporary agreement issued by the ICJ.

Ershadi also averred that NAM emphasizes the importance of the General Assembly’s request dated December 30, 2022, for an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the legal consequences and obligations arising from continuing such illegal policies and actions, prolonging Israel’s occupation, depriving Palestinians of their rights to determine their fate, and discriminatory actions against them.

Israel has been relentlessly and cruelly pounding the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. The Palestinian Health Ministry said on Wednesday that so far at least 29,313 people have been killed and 69,333 wounded in Israel's attacks on Gaza. 

Last year, she called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring punishments on those responsible for the horrible crimes committed in Gaza.

“The Court is expected not to let the perpetrators of these heinous crimes go unpunished. A whole nation that has been subject to oppressive occupation for more than 75 years is on the verge of genocide and extermination,” she added. 

Also in the same year, Iran’s ambassador to the UN rejected U.S. accusations allegedly pinning the blame for the war in Gaza on Iran. 

“Iran aligns with the international community in endorsing the call for an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and “cessation” of the Zionist regime of Israel’s uninterrupted military aggression, Saeid Iravani said at the UN Security Council meeting.

Israel’s brutal crimes against Gaza and the killing of the Palestinian people is a clear violation of international law on human rights, the ambassador announced.

In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Iravani pointed out that the continuation of the conflict between Israel and Gaza could tarnish the global perception of the United States and pose a threat to U.S. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.

Iravani urged the United States to conduct a comprehensive reassessment of its national security strategy in West Asia. 

He also expressed deep reservations about the increasing support provided by the U.S. to Israel, emphasizing that Israel’s military capacity, including invasions, heavily relies on unequivocal backing from the United States. 

As the conflict persists, Iravani highlighted the exponentially escalating cost of this support for the United States.