TEHRAN, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Tuesday strongly condemned Israel's new round of attacks against the Gaza Strip, which reportedly killed more than 400 people.
Baghaei said in a statement that this fresh wave of attacks "against the defenseless people of Gaza," concurrent with the ongoing blockade of the coastal enclave, "took place with the U.S. greenlight."
He described the attacks as "a continuation of the crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing in the occupied Palestinian territories," calling for action from all governments and the United Nations to stop them.
The spokesman warned that any inaction in the face of Israel's "flagrant and unprecedented violations of international rules and norms" could lead to the collapse of the global legal and normative system and cause "catastrophic consequences" for global peace and security.
Baghaei reminded the Muslim world of its "special responsibility" to prevent the killings in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take serious actions to support the oppressed Palestinians.
Israel carried out deadly bombardments across Gaza early Tuesday, killing at least 413 people, and vowed to intensify the assault if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages held in the enclave. ■
