‘Doctrine of impunity’ for Israel threatens regional stability: Araghchi warns regional countries

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that allowing Israel to act beyond international law would lead to broader regional instability, saying that a “doctrine of impunity does not bring peace.”

Speaking as a special guest at the Al Jazeera Forum’s opening panel on Saturday, Araghchi said the war in Gaza has become a defining test for international law and global moral credibility.

“Let no one miscalculate: a region cannot be kept stable by allowing one actor to act above the law,” he said, adding, “The doctrine of impunity will not produce peace; it will produce wider conflict.”

Araghchi described Palestine as the central issue shaping justice and security in West Asia, noting that Gaza is no longer only a humanitarian crisis but part of a broader expansionist project carried out under the banner of security.

“What we are witnessing in Gaza is not merely war. It is not a “conflict” between equal parties; it is the deliberate destruction of civilian life on a massive scale. It is genocide.”

According to Araghchi, the immunity granted to Israel has set a dangerous precedent, allowing attacks on civilians, infrastructure, and cross-border assassinations without accountability.

“This is not merely a Palestinian problem. It is a global problem,” he said, warning that international relations are increasingly being governed by force rather than law.

The foreign minister also cautioned that developments in Gaza threaten regional stability, saying forced displacement or destruction there could pave the way for further annexation in the West Bank.

Israeli keeps killing more Palestinian civilians in Gaza amid relentless ceasefire violations

At least two more Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip.

He also warned that Israel’s policies aim to maintain permanent military and strategic dominance in the region while weakening neighboring states.

Calling for coordinated international action, Araghchi urged support for legal mechanisms and accountability, including sanctions. “Expressions of concern are not enough,” he said. “There must be consequences for violations.”

He called for comprehensive and targeted sanctions against Israel, including an immediate arms embargo and suspension of military and intelligence cooperation.

Araghchi emphasized the need for a credible political horizon based on international law, including an end to occupation, accountability for crimes, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Al-Quds as its capital.

He also urged Muslim countries, Arab states, and the Global South to form a unified diplomatic front. “This is not about confrontation,” he noted, adding that “It is about preventing the region from being reshaped by force.”

The Iranian diplomat also stated that lasting regional stability depends on justice for Palestinians.

“If the world wants peace, it must stop rewarding aggression,” he said. “Palestine is not merely a cause for solidarity; it is the indispensable cornerstone of regional security.”

Israel has continued to violate the ceasefire deal despite a January announcement by the US administration that the second phase of the agreement had begun. That phase includes additional Israeli withdrawals from Gaza and the launch of reconstruction efforts, which the United Nations estimates will cost about 70 billion dollars.

Since the ceasefire agreement came into effect last October, Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations, resulting in the killing of at least 574 Palestinians and the injury of 1,518 others.

The truce agreement followed Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, and lasted more than two years.

The genocide has left about 72,000 Palestinians killed, over 171,000 wounded, and caused widespread destruction, with approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure damaged.

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