Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called for a collective effort among nations with ancient cultures and civilizations to halt Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Speaking at the Ancient Civilizations Forum in Tehran, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the need to hold Israeli officials accountable for war crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
Describing the situation in Gaza as "distressing," the Iranian minister denounced the Israeli occupation and the confiscation of Palestinian lands over the past seven decades. He criticized the silence of self-proclaimed human rights defenders in the face of atrocities committed by the "fake" Israeli regime.
Amir-Abdollahian condemned Israeli aerial and ground aggression, which has resulted in the death of at least 20,057 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, with over 53,320 others injured and a significant displacement of the population in the besieged territory.
Furthermore, he voiced strong opposition to Israel's intentional destruction of Gaza's heritage sites and attempts to erase the Islamic identity of the occupied Old City of al-Quds. The foreign minister called on countries with ancient civilizations to condemn such crimes and use all available means to stop the ongoing situation, advocating for the trial of war criminals in an international court of law.
Additionally, Amir-Abdollahian accused the United States of international responsibility for its complicity in Israeli genocide and war crimes against the people of Gaza and the West Bank.
Addressing recent desecrations of the Holy Quran and other religious scriptures in some European countries, he urged governments to preserve civilized, cultural, and religious interactions by criminalizing and punishing such actions.
Highlighting the responsibility of countries with rich cultural histories, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the need to counter discourses of supremacy, dominance, exclusivity, and racism. He pointed out that the international community is still grappling with the consequences of domination and violence, the misuse of international principles, and the prevalence of double standards.
The Ancient Civilizations Forum, comprising Iran, Armenia, Italy, Bolivia, Peru, China, Iraq, Egypt, Mexico, and Greece, established in 2017, saw Iran assume the rotating chairmanship and host the 2023 meeting.
