WANA (Aug 25) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Monday, 3 Shahrivar, delivered a powerful address on the situation in Gaza during the extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers in Jeddah, calling on participating countries to immediately cut ties with Israel, which he described as the “murderers of our brothers and sisters in Gaza” and accused of pursuing the “absurd dream of a Greater Israel.” Araghchi emphasized: “Gaza cannot wait—the time for action is now.”

 

Planned Massacre of Gaza Civilians

Araghchi said the world has gathered at a moment when Gaza “stands like a shocking mirror to our collective conscience.” He condemned the systematic destruction of civilians under blockade by a “ruthless apartheid regime operating with complete impunity,” stating that residential areas have been obliterated, hospitals turned into cemeteries, and children trapped in extreme hunger and deprivation. He called the violence “not an ordinary war but collective punishment, a policy of domination, and yes, an assault bearing all the hallmarks of genocide.”

 

Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza

The Iranian foreign minister accused the perpetrators of openly planning permanent military control over Gaza, introducing new blockades, buffer zones, and forced expulsions under the guise of “security.” Araghchi warned: “We know the real name: ethnic cleansing—a systematic attempt to fragment a people until nothing remains but destruction or exile.”

 

He stressed that international law clearly classifies starvation and indiscriminate bombing as war crimes and crimes against humanity, referencing the Fourth Geneva Convention’s prohibition on targeting civilians, demolishing homes, and forced population displacement. “This deliberate imposition of conditions designed to destroy a people has one name: genocide. What more evidence do we need?” he asked.

 

Mobilizing All Tools Against Israel

Araghchi called on the Islamic world to act decisively, questioning whether global Islam would remain silent while Gaza suffers: “Empty condemnations and inaction are useless. To ensure peace and the full withdrawal of occupying forces from every inch of Gaza, we must:

  • Mobilize all political, economic, and legal tools, including sanctions, boycotts, and coordinated international pressure;
  • Pursue accountability at all levels and in all courts against those responsible for war crimes and genocide in Palestine; and
  • Immediately sever all relations with the killers of our brothers and sisters in Gaza.”

 

He added that states arming Israel are complicit, warning that neutrality in the face of crimes is itself complicity.

 

Gaza Awaits Meaningful Support

Araghchi described Gaza as more than a place of suffering: “Gaza is a symbol of resistance and a reminder that human dignity cannot be reduced to ashes by bombs. Its people await meaningful support, and their perseverance calls us to stand firmly with them—not just in words, but in decisive action.”

 

A Global Test of Conscience

He urged the summit to be remembered as a turning point where the Islamic world moved from passive witness to resolute action. “The tragedy of Gaza concerns not only Muslims but the conscience of humanity. We call on all nations, regardless of religion or geography, to stand on the side of humanity, justice, and dignity—the side of history.”

 

Araghchi concluded: “History will not forgive delay. Gaza cannot wait. The time for action is now.”

 

Prior to the summit, Araghchi highlighted Israel’s “malicious intent to occupy and annex Arab and Islamic lands,” noting that the meeting should serve as a historic test for the Islamic world and a rare opportunity to build a regional and global coalition to stop Israeli aggression.

 

During his stay in Jeddah for the OIC meeting, Araghchi also held meetings with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Iraq, discussing both the situation in Gaza and bilateral relations.

Araghchi at the Extraordinary OIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jeddah. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Araghchi at the Extraordinary OIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jeddah. Social media/ WANA News Agency