Parliamentary speakers from 13 countries meet to condemn Israel's continued onslaught in Gaza

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Parliamentary speakers from 13 countries meet to condemn Israel's continued onslaught in Gaza

2025-04-19 17:34 Last Updated At：04-20 00:17

As Israel continued its deadly attacks in Gaza on Friday, Parliament speakers of 13 countries gathered for the "Groups of Parliaments in Support of Palestine" meeting in Istanbul and condemned Israel's attacks that have caused what UNRWA calls "likely the worst humanitarian crisis" in the Gaza Strip since the war started in October 2023.

Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Friday killed at least 45 Palestinians and injured dozens of others, according to the Civil Defense in Gaza.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza's Civil Defense, said that in the southern city of Khan Younis, 10 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential home belonging to the Baraka family, while six others, including two children and a woman, died after an airstrike on a barbershop. Multiple other strikes in Khan Younis reportedly killed eight more people, while two others were killed in southern Rafah city, he added.

In the north, at least 13 people were killed and several others wounded when a strike hit the Maqdad family's home in the Tal al-Zaatar area, Basal said, noting six were killed in airstrikes on two displacement tents in Gaza City.

In a press statement, the Civil Defense warned that its emergency operations may grind to a halt in the coming days due to fuel shortages, which it attributed to the ongoing Israeli restrictions on aid and fuel entry.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that, with the direction of intelligence, IDF troops are continuing their operational activity against militant organizations in Gaza, dismantling their infrastructure sites, and killing militants.

At the interparliamentary meeting in Istanbul, parliament speakers condemned the killings, urging "global organizations to take action to halt the attacks by Tel Aviv," Türkiye's Anadolu Agency reported.

Malaysian Parliament Speaker Tan Sri Dato Johari bin Abdul reiterated her country's support for Palestine's independence and sovereignty, and condemned the killing of civilians, while Spanish Parliament Speaker Armengol Socias said that "what has been happening in Gaza since October 2023 constitutes 'a crime against humanity'," said the report.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Friday that it runs 115 shelters across the Gaza Strip, with over 90,000 displaced people residing in them.

The UN estimates that nearly 420,000 people have been displaced yet again since the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza on the night between March 17 and 18.

Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip for almost seven weeks since March 2, when the Israeli authorities imposed a siege.

"As a result, critical humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel medical aid and vaccines for children, are rapidly depleting," read an UNRWA situation report, which noted, "this is 'likely the worst humanitarian crisis' the Gaza Strip is facing in the 18 months since the war started in October 2023." According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people -- or about 90 percent of the population -- across the Gaza Strip have been displaced during the war, said UNRWA.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.