IPU member states should deliver aid to Gaza: Larijani

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has called on member states of the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to deliver relief aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip.

In a Monday meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri on the side lines of the 11th session of Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC) in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Larijani expressed regret that Muslims have so far failed to fulfill their responsibility with regard to Palestinians in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for more than eight years.

“Under these circumstances, it is necessary that a group [of member countries] of the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union travel to Gaza and deliver Muslim countries’ humanitarian aid to the Palestinians,” said Larijani.

Gaza Strip has been under Israel’s blockade since June 2007. The crippling siege has caused a decline in living standards as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.

Israel launched its latest war on the Gaza Strip in early July 2014. Nearly 2,200 Palestinians, including 577 children, were killed in Israel’s 50-day onslaught. Over 11,100 others – including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly people – were also injured.

In his meeting with the Iraqi official, the Iranian parliament speaker further expressed satisfaction over the current security situation in Iraq, parts of which is controlled by Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

He further underlined the necessity for unity and solidarity among different Iraqi groups.

The Iraqi parliament speaker, for his part, expressed hope for the settlement of differences between the regional countries.

Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh Takfiris launched an offensive in June 2014, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory.

The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.

The Iraqi army and fighters from Popular Mobilization Units are engaged in joint military operations to win back militant-held regions.