Israel’s Continuing Crimes Source of Grave Concern

Iran believes the international community's efforts to halt Israel's continuing illegal and criminal actions and policies against the people of Palestine have "mostly failed". 

Israel "continues to disregard and disrespect the persistent demands by the international community to abide by international law," said Iran's Deputy Ambassador to the UN Gholamhossein Dehqani in a statement addressed to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Press TV reported. 

He voiced Iran's regret over the lack of measures by the international community vis-à-vis the host of criminal actions being carried out with "impunity" by the Tel Aviv regime against the people of Palestine.

"The systematic violation of the rights of Palestinian people, including demolition of homes, forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, arrest and detention of Palestinians, including children, and incessant violence, terror and provocations by Israeli settlers and extremists, including at sensitive religious sites, particularly al-Aqsa Mosque in East al-Quds, have persisted unabated," he said.

Dehqani noted that Israel's illegal blockade on Gaza Strip continues to fuel deprivation and hopelessness among Palestinians, and the rising number of illegal settlements on the Palestinian soil shows that Tel Aviv is not interested in making peace with the Palestinians.

He concluded his statement by reiterating Iran's "unwavering support" for Palestine, while assuring that Tehran will do whatever it can for the Palestinians to "realize the cause of a free and prosperous Palestine".  

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli siege since June 2007. The blockade has led to a dramatic decline in the standards of living as well as substantial levels of unemployment and poverty.

The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in August 2015.

Over half a million Israelis live in more than 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East al-Quds.

The Tel Aviv regime has defied international calls to stop its illegal construction activities, with its settlement expansion being among the main reasons behind the collapse of the last round of the so-called Middle East peace talks in 2014.