Iran and Algeria Urged to Collaborate on Gaza Aid Deliveries: Parliament Speaker

Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has emphasized the necessity for collaborative efforts between Iran and Algeria to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the conflict-stricken Gaza Strip.

In Jakarta on Wednesday, during the 19th high-level parliamentary meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC), Qalibaf delivered a statement in a meeting with Ibrahim Boughali, President of the National People’s Assembly of Algeria.

He underscored the critical need for unity and cohesion in confronting the persistent Israeli actions in Palestine and emphasized the restoration of rights for the beleaguered Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.

He expressed criticism regarding the absence of solidarity among Muslim nations in supporting Palestine, noting, “At present, not only do some Muslim countries fall short in backing Palestine, but a number of them even extend support to the Zionists amidst these oppressive circumstances.”

Qalibaf has called on Muslim nations to work collaboratively towards finding a resolution to the Palestinian issue, urging global engagement to assist in securing a definitive victory for the Palestinian people.

He urged the legislative bodies of Muslim nations to take a definitive and transparent position regarding the Palestinian matter.

The Israeli military recommenced its artillery attacks on Gaza on March 18, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and injuring numerous others. This action followed the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire agreement with Hamas, as well as the collapse of a deal concerning the exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian abductees.

As of the latest reports, the intense military actions by Israeli forces in Gaza since October 7, 2023, have resulted in the deaths of at least 52,928 Palestinians, with a significant number being women and children. Additionally, 119,846 individuals have sustained injuries amid the ongoing conflict.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced on Monday its willingness to promptly enter negotiations aimed at establishing a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has acknowledged that the majority of casualties resulting from its operations in Gaza were unarmed civilians.

In his comments, a senior Iranian parliamentarian emphasized that Iran and Algeria possess significant potential to enhance their cooperation in the areas of industry, health, and transportation.

Boughali remarked that certain nations are choosing to normalize relations with Israel, a move he believes could be detrimental to their interests while potentially encouraging the regime to perpetrate further offenses.

He noted that forced displacement, alongside shortages of medicine and food, remains a pressing issue in Palestine. He called on Muslim nations to intensify their efforts in advocating for the restoration of Palestinian rights through international legal channels.

As of March 2, no humanitarian aid has reached Gaza, prompting international organizations to issue warnings that 500,000 people, which constitutes a quarter of the Gaza Strip’s population, are at risk of starvation if aid shipments are not resumed promptly.

Regarding bilateral cooperation, the Speaker of the Algerian Parliament stated that Tehran and Algiers have the potential to leverage their exemplary capacities to bolster economic collaboration.