Why is Iraq condemning Israel's siege on Gaza?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Iraq condemns Israel's siege on Gaza.
- Call for immediate international humanitarian intervention.
- Severe food shortages reported in Gaza.
- High casualties among Palestinian civilians.
- Humanitarian organizations warn of impending famine.
Baghdad, July 24 (NationPress) The Iraqi administration has vocally denounced the ongoing "harsh siege" enforced by Israeli forces on the residents of Gaza, demanding prompt international measures to tackle the escalating humanitarian crisis.
This cruel and systematic strategy of depriving the suffering Palestinians of food constitutes a severe infringement on human dignity, remarked Iraqi government spokesperson Basim al-Awadi during a statement on Wednesday.
“The distressing images of starving children waiting for a scrap of food, along with visuals of women and men encircling the limited aid trucks, which have now become perilous due to the occupation forces, highlight abhorrent and unethical actions,” it continued.
“The Iraqi administration expresses its condemnation and vehement opposition to the relentless siege enacted by the occupation forces on the people of Gaza. This heartless and systematic approach to starving our afflicted Palestinian brothers and sisters is a severe violation of human dignity.”
The Iraqi government urged for an immediate cessation of the starvation tactics against the residents of Gaza and called for urgent international intervention to compel Israel to lift the siege and permit relief supplies to reach those in dire need, as stated.
Since Israel resumed military actions in the territory on March 18, at least 8,363 Palestinians have been reported dead, and 31,004 others injured, as per Gaza-based health authorities, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 59,219, with injuries at 143,045.
Some of the recent fatalities were allegedly caused by Israeli gunfire on civilians gathering for aid within the enclave.
Moreover, on Wednesday, health authorities reported 10 additional deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the last 24 hours in Gaza, escalating the death toll to 111 since March.
Gaza health authorities indicate that over 54,000 Palestinians have lost their lives and more than 123,000 have been injured since the conflict's inception.
In March 2025, Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, halting all aid and commercial shipments.
Humanitarian organizations have since alerted of famine, the outbreak of diseases, and the disintegration of Gaza's healthcare system due to severe shortages of fuel, medicine, and food.