At UN, Iranian president says Gaza ‘genocide’ has exposed true nature of Israel

In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says, “The world has witnessed the true nature of the Israeli regime” over the past year of war in Gaza.

“It has witnessed how the regime carries out atrocities in Gaza, and how in 11 months it has murdered in cold blood over 41,000 innocent people, mostly women and children,” Pezeshkian says, making no differentiation between civilians and combatants.

“Its leaders label this genocide — the killing of children, war crimes and state terrorism — as legitimate self-defense. They label hospitals, kindergartens and schools as legitimate military targets. They label the freedom-loving and brave people around the world who protest against their genocide as antisemitic. They label oppressed people who have stood up against seven decades of occupation and humiliation as terrorists,” he continues.

“It is Israel that has assassinated our scientists, diplomats and even guests on our soil,” the Iranian president says, apparently referring to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran in July. Pezeshkian claims, without proof that Israel “supported — both covertly and overtly — terrorist groups like ISIS.”

“Israel has been defeated in Gaza, and no amount of barbaric violence can restore its myth of invincibility,” he claims.

He calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and “an end to the desperate barbarism of Israel in Lebanon before it engulfs the region and the world.”

The Iranian president argues that the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the holding of a referendum for Palestinians “who live in their motherland as well as those who have been forced into its diaspora to determine their future.”

“We are confident that through this mechanism, we can achieve a lasting peace with Muslims, Christians and Jews living alongside one another in one land in tranquility and peace,” Pezeshkian says.