Israel’s ‘systematic massacre’ of Palestinians in Gaza reminiscent of Nazi crimes: Qalibaf

Addressing the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday, Qalibaf stated that high-profile parliamentarians from all regions of the world have come together at the event, which takes places from July 29 to 31 at the Palais des Nations, to promote justice against a spate of aggression that is pushing the humankind towards an abyss.

He said a catastrophe is unfolding in Gaza, which is unparalleled and could only be compared to the darkest pages of human history.

“We are witnessing the emergence of the Nazis of the 21st century. A regime, which through cold-bloodedness and a [grim] scenario, is waging a campaign of aggression that seems to have sprung from the nightmares of the most horrific crimes in history,” the senior Iranian legislator noted.

Qalibaf said that Zionists, as the Nazis of the 21st century, must be stopped before humanity is drowned forever in the whirlpool of oppression.

He also underlined the need to address the root causes, repercussions, and factors affecting the ongoing Gaza war, and to take proper action to resolve the issue.

“Gaza today is not simply an expanse of land, but rather an abattoir and a crime scene. It is a slaughterhouse built out of a terrible and wicked mentality that swallows humanity within itself. What is happening in Gaza is not war; it is a systematic massacre,” Qalibaf stated.

At least 60,034 Palestinians have been martyred, mostly women and children, and another 148,870 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry figures.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Zionist regime also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on the besieged coastal territory.

During the recent 12-day Israeli aggression against Iran, Qalibaf said the Zionist regime, with the support and coordination of the United States, carried out direct attacks on the critical infrastructure of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including peaceful nuclear facilities registered and supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), just as Tehran and Washington were engaged in indirect diplomatic negotiations.

“The attacks were not only a threat to Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also a worrying warning for the destabilization of collective security in the region and across the globe.

“The inaction of international institutions in response to these actions raised serious questions about the credibility and effectiveness of international peacekeeping structures, including the UN Security Council,” he stated.

Qalibaf said Iran’s retaliatory response to Zionist regime’s assaults was within the framework of its right to self-defense, emphasizing that the Islamic Republic neither relied on international institutions nor on hollow promises of great powers during the June 13-25 war.