Iran awaiting Egypt’s response on aid dispatch to Gaza: FM

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Tehran is waiting for a positive response from Egypt for the dispatch of foodstuff and medical aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

“We are waiting for the fulfillment of the Egyptian government’s promises in this regard,” Zarif told reporters on Monday.

He added that he has held two telephone conversations with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on the Israeli regime’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza and the necessity to send humanitarian aid to people in the blockaded enclave.

“We hope that the Egyptian government would help Iran’s medical aid and foodstuff reach the people in Gaza and prepare the ground for the transfer of the injured Palestinians, who are mostly children, to Iran,” Zarif said.

The Iranian minister noted that despite promises by the Egyptian government, Tehran has not received “a serious response” yet.

Pointing to the day-long meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Committee on Palestine over the situation in Gaza, he added that the event in Tehran conveyed the message to the world that the majority of people do not accept silence and indifference regarding the ongoing crisis in the besieged enclave.

“It is necessary that Muslim countries, members of the Non-Aligned Movement and Arab states adopt a coordinated measure to defend the Gazans and exert pressure on the Zionist regime [Israel] and its allies to end their crimes,” the Iranian minister pointed out.

He expressed regret that the international community has failed to play an active role to put an end to the Israeli regime’s atrocities in Gaza as a result of the US and certain Western countries’ support for Tel Aviv.

Medical sources say at least 1,865 people, including over 400 children, have been killed and over 9,400 injured since the Israeli regime began its offensive against the Gaza Strip on July 8.