Zionist Entity Must End Gaza Siege As Reparation for Crimes, Says Khamenei
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Zionist Entity must pay for the crimes it has committed in Gaza by ending the siege of the Palestinian coastal strip.
“As the Palestinians are saying, there must be reparation for all these crimes, in the form of ending the blockade on Gaza and no just human being can deny this rightful demand,” the Leader said at a meeting with Iran’s foreign minister and other Iranian diplomats on Wednesday.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the Palestinians rightfully maintain that merely accepting the ceasefire gives Israel the green light to commit further crimes without being punished, and then continue the all-out blockade and extreme pressures.
The Leader pointed to the growing global hatred of the US for its complicity in Israel’s atrocities and noted, “There is nobody in the world to absolve the Americans of involvement in the crimes and genocide by the usurper, wolfish, murderous, infidel and oppressive Zionist regime in Gaza; therefore, the Americans are now in a weaker position.”
Elsewhere in the remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei underscored Iran’s determination to interact with the whole world and noted, “However, there are two exceptions: the Zionist regime (of Israel) and the US.”
“Relations with the US and negotiation with this country, except on certain issues, not only has no benefits for the Islamic Republic, but is also detrimental,” the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the escalation of US pressures against Iran despite Tehran’s direct talks with Washington over the nuclear issue since last year and said, “All in all, it turned out that, contrary to some people’s perceptions, negotiations don’t help anything.”
“As long as the present circumstances, namely the US animosity and the hostile remarks by the US Congress and administration against Iran continue, interaction with them has no grounds,” the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the importance of adopting an “active and smart diplomacy” as a must during the current transition period to a new world order.
UK government slammed over Israel arms export decision
On the other hand, the UK government has been criticized for its decision to suspend arms contracts to Israel, only if hostilities resume in Gaza, with critics saying the decision signals support for the Israeli government.
The criticism came on Tuesday after British Business Secretary Vince Cable announced that 12 arms export licenses, including “components for military radar systems, combat aircraft and tanks,” would only be suspended if fighting resumed.
Critics blasted the decision, calling the government’s response to Israel’s aggression against the Gaza Strip “incredibly weak.”
Andrew Smith, media spokesperson for Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), said the government’s decision “will be seen as a sign of political support for the Israeli government.”
Smith called for a full arms embargo on Israel, saying, “Arms sales don’t just provide military support, they also provide political support, and the UK government needs to send out a strong signal that it does not support the bombardment of Gaza.”
Sayeeda Warsi, who has recently resigned as a senior Foreign Office minister over the government’s stance on Gaza, also denounced the decision saying it was “morally indefensible,” adding, “More people have to die before” an arms suspension will be imposed against Israel.”
A recent report by British parliamentary committee for arms export controls shows that Israel received around £8 billion in the form of 400 arms licenses from the UK in 2013.
Other reports have also shown that Israel has been using weapons containing British-made components in the recent aggression against the Gaza Strip which began on July 8.
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