Iraqi government condemns violence in Gaza, calls for international intervention

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza by Israeli forces, describing the actions as part of a “brutal and criminal” campaign against Palestinian civilians and infrastructure. The statement follows reports of significant civilian casualties from recent airstrikes.

“In the early hours of yesterday, more than forty civilians were martyred due to bombing by the occupation forces on displacement camps in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip,” said Basim Al-Awadi, the official spokesperson for the Iraqi government. He also noted recent attacks on the Al-Nuseirat school, which resulted in multiple casualties, including six staff members from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Al-Awadi condemned the escalation of violence in Gaza and called for international intervention. He described the situation as an “unleashed beast” of extremism and brutality that has “strayed from every law, regulation, values, and morals.” He urged major nations and organizations to act, stating, “The world, especially its major countries, organizations, and institutions, must act to restrain this aggressor.”

“The price of this unjustifiable silence is new victims and ongoing devastation,” Al-Awadi continued, stressing that the international community, particularly major powers, has a responsibility to address the ongoing violence.

International outcry grew on Thursday after an Israeli strike killed 18 people at a school in Gaza that was being used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians. According to the Israeli military, the strike was aimed at Hamas militants.

The attack severely damaged the UN-operated Al-Jawni school in Nuseirat, reducing parts of the building to rubble. UNRWA reported the deaths of six staff members, marking the highest single-incident death toll for its personnel.

Efforts to broker peace between Hamas and Israel have so far failed, despite months of negotiations led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

A Hamas delegation met with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Doha on Wednesday to discuss a potential ceasefire and a prisoner exchange, though no immediate progress was made, according to a statement from the group.

The conflict has caused widespread devastation, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting at least 41,118 deaths, the majority of whom are women and children, according to the UN rights offi