In separate messages to President of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (PUIC) Abdelwahed Radi and its Secretary General Martin Chungong, Larijani condemned the new wave of Israeli attacks against Palestinians in Gaza.

Larijani, who is the current president of the PUIC conference, called for the PUIC and other international bodies to take prompt action to stop Israeli atrocities and ease the blockade of the impoverished Gaza Strip.

The Iranian parliament speaker said that the continuation of the siege of Gaza and a lack of medical supplies and humanitarian aid in the area could bring about a “big humanitarian catastrophe” and endanger regional peace and security.

Earlier on Monday, Larijani held telephone conversations with Speaker of Mali National Assembly Issaka Sidibé and Speaker of Sudan’s National Assembly Fatih Ezzedine al-Mansur as the current and future chairmen of the PUIC, calling for an end to Israel’s brutal attacks by strengthening solidarity among Muslim countries.

Since July 8, Israeli warplanes have struck more than 1,800 targets across Gaza, which is home to around 1.8 million Palestinians. The strikes have so far claimed the lives of 230 with more than 1,700 others injured.

Despite international calls for an end to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recently that the Tel Aviv regime was hitting Gaza “with growing force” and that there was no end in sight.

SHI/SHI