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Slamming snapback activation

Iran's foreign minister has slammed the triggering of the so-called snapback mechanism by the three European parties to the 2015 agreement, known as the JCPOA. Abbas Araghchi described the European countries’ move as illegal and unjustified. Iran's top diplomat was speaking in a phone call with the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. Araghchi said the measure taken by the UK, France and Germany further increases doubts about their intentions towards Iran, and makes pursuit of the diplomatic path more complicated. Araghchi emphasized that Iran will take appropriate action in response to this provocative and inappropriate measure by the three European countries. Callas, for her part, re-emphasized the need to find a diplomatic solution to the existing differences. She expressed her readiness to play a role in facilitating diplomacy and dialogue. Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the activation of the snapback mechanism. It said in a statement that the three European countries lack the legal authority to resort to the snapback process after they failed to honor their JCPOA obligations.

Gaza humanitarian catastrophe

The UN chief has once again issued a serious warning about the staggering number of civilian casualties in Gaza. Antonio Guterres says the scale of death and destruction in the besieged territory is without parallel in recent times. Guterres stressed that Gaza’s food, water, and healthcare systems have been systematically destroyed, leaving people to die from hunger. He warned that famine in Gaza is no longer a looming threat, but a present-day catastrophe. He also raised the alarm over Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City. Guterres cautioned that expanded military operations there would force hundreds of thousands to flee again, pushing families into even greater peril. Guterres also reiterated his call for a lasting ceasefire and the protection of civilians in the war-ravaged territory.

Israeli crimes in Gaza

Hamas has strongly condemned the latest statements by an Israeli far-right minister, who has called for cutting off water, electricity, and food supply to the Gaza Strip. Bezalel Smotrich also proposed forced displacement as a solution to implement the annexation of Gaza. Hamas said Smotrich’s remarks are, in fact, a public call for the continuation of Israel’s crimes in Gaza until all the Palestinian people are exterminated or displaced. The movement added that the minister’s remarks also prove that the regime is using starvation and siege as a weapon against innocent civilians, which is a war crime under international law. Hamas stressed that what Smotrich said is not an isolated extremist opinion, but an official policy of the Israeli regime, which has been implemented in Gaza for nearly twenty-three months. It said the remarks reveal the true nature of Israel to the world, and confirm that what is happening in Gaza is a project of genocide and mass displacement. Hamas also urged the international community to hold the regime accountable for its crimes.

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