The Cradle, November 15, 2023
The Iranian diplomat told Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, that humanitarian aid for Gaza has been ‘meager’.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on 15 November that the UN can count on Iran to ensure regional peace.
“The UN can count upon Iran’s capacities for the establishment of regional peace and security,” Amir-Abdollahian told UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, during a meeting on Wednesday, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
During the meeting, Amir-Abdollahian denounced “the Israeli regime’s brutal attacks on Gaza.”
He also highlighted “the unbearable conditions” Gazans are facing, and “stressed the need for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.”
“Contrary to the US’ claims, the supplies of humanitarian aid for Gaza have been meager,” the Iranian diplomat told Griffiths, imploring the UN to “act urgently” to secure proper aid access though the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Griffiths lamented “the catastrophic situation in Gaza, particularly the terrible conditions at Al-Shifa Hospital, as a tragedy.”
He also expressed appreciation for Iranian efforts to “prevent the spread of clashes.”
Iran has repeatedly called for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza, and since 7 October has been warning that escalated regional responses will come if Israeli atrocities continue.
Hezbollah has been launching daily operations against Israel from southern Lebanon, while Iran-backed Iraqi factions are striking US bases in Syria and Iraq on a daily basis. Yemen’s Ansarallah movement has also been launching drones and ballistic missiles towards the Israeli port city of Eilat.
Tehran has continued to issue stern warnings to Washington.
On 5 November, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani said: “Our advice to the Americans is to immediately stop the war in Gaza and implement a ceasefire, otherwise they will be hit hard.”
Since last month the US has rejected several UN resolutions demanding a ceasefire.
While limited amounts of aid have been trickling through the Rafah border crossing, Palestinian health officials and charities working in Gaza have said that it is not enough to tackle the severe crisis.
Humanitarian aid has been politicized and used as a weapon by Israeli authorities since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on 7 October.
Last week, the Egyptian government, at the request of Israel, refused 60 tons of aid sent from Iran for the Palestinians of Gaza.
Meanwhile, the health sector in Gaza has collapsed as a result of an ongoing Israeli campaign against hospitals in the besieged enclave, particularly the Al-Shifa hospital.