On Monday, August ‌25, 2025, iranian ⁣Deputy Foreign ​Minister for ⁣Political⁢ Affairs, ali Bagheri ⁤Kani, addressed ‍an extraordinary session of the ⁣Council of Foreign Ministers of the Institution of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Kani urged Islamic nations to leverage all available political, economic, and⁣ legal mechanisms – including sanctions, boycotts, and coordinated international ​pressure – to achieve peace and​ ensure​ the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces​ from Gaza.

demands for Accountability

Kani called for accountability at all levels and in every court for those responsible for what⁣ he described as war crimes and genocide committed in Palestine. He emphasized the need to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Gaza as a Reflection of Collective Conscience

Kani stated ‌that the situation ​in Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the international‌ community’s conscience, characterizing the events ⁢as the systematic ⁤destruction⁣ of a besieged population. He accused Israel of operating as a “ruthless apartheid regime” with​ impunity.

Allegations of Collective punishment and Genocide

The ‌Iranian diplomat asserted that the people of Gaza are⁣ being deliberately targeted, with residential ​areas destroyed, hospitals overwhelmed, and⁢ children facing famine and extreme hunger. He characterized this not as a conventional war, but as collective punishment, a policy of domination, and an act of genocide.

Kani further ‌claimed that ‌plans to impose ⁢permanent military control over Gaza, including new enclosures, buffer zones, and expulsions, are⁤ in ⁢reality a form‌ of​ “ethnic cleansing” aimed at the annihilation or exile of the Palestinian people.

International Law Violations

Kani argued ⁣that international law​ defines starvation and indiscriminate bombardment⁢ as war crimes ​and crimes against humanity.He cited the​ Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits targeting civilians, destroying homes, and forcibly displacing populations, asserting that these ⁢actions constitute a deliberate attempt to destroy a population – genocide.