Tehran, July 13 — Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a scathing rebuke of Israel’s aid distribution strategy in Gaza, describing it as a “cheap form of genocide” and accusing Western powers of complicity in the deepening humanitarian crisis.
In a statement shared on social media, Khamenei claimed that Palestinians in Gaza are being forced into a deadly dilemma: “either perish under the rubble of hunger or get shot trying to obtain a food package.” He added, “This is a cheap form of genocide, calculated with Western precision. A nation that once died under bombs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars now dies in food lines from bullets that cost mere dollars”.
The remarks come amid mounting international concern over the rising civilian death toll in Gaza. According to the United Nations, at least 798 Palestinians have been killed near aid distribution points over the past six weeks. These sites, operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and other organizations, have reportedly become flashpoints for violence, with Israeli soldiers and U.S. contractors allegedly involved in shootings targeting unarmed civilians seeking food.
UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini echoed Khamenei’s concerns, stating that Gaza has become “the graveyard of children and starving people.” He warned that the current aid mechanism represents “the most cruel and Machiavellian scheme to kill, in total impunity”.
The Israeli government has defended its actions, asserting that aid convoys have been exploited by Hamas militants to divert supplies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that any ceasefire negotiations would be contingent on Hamas’s complete disarmament, either voluntarily or through military means.
Since the outbreak of hostilities following Hamas’s October 7 attack, Gaza’s health ministry reports that over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them civilians. The conflict has also left hundreds of thousands displaced and in urgent need of food, water, and medical assistance.
Khamenei’s remarks underscore Iran’s growing diplomatic offensive against Israel’s military and humanitarian policies in Gaza, as Tehran seeks to galvanize global opposition and pressure Western governments to intervene.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Condemns Israel’s Gaza Aid Policy as “Cheap Form of Genocide”
