Iran has strongly condemned the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza, describing them as "genocidal" and accusing the United States of complicity in the "massacre" of Palestinian civilians, IRIB reported on March 18.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei delivered a scathing critique on March 18, highlighting the devastating toll of the attacks, which he said targeted "defenceless people" including "innocent women and children."

The fragile ceasefire collapsed overnight on March 17-18 as Israel launched a major aerial offensive against Hamas targets across Gaza, resulting in over 420 Palestinian deaths. Israel cited Hamas's continued rejection of hostage release proposals as the cause of the renewed hostilities.

The group responded that the US was to blame for the slow negotiations as Israeli troops continue to target Gaza repeatedly and have since started operations with bulldozers in the West Bank on March 18 afternoon, according to local sources. 

The attack coincided with the ongoing food and medical blockade of the Gaza Strip, a situation which Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman directly linked to "the green light of the United States."

Baghaei asserted that the Israeli actions constitute "a continuation of the crime of genocide and ethnic cleansing in occupied Palestine," placing "direct responsibility" for these crimes on the US government.

He further highlighted the responsibility of all governments and the United Nations to intervene and halt the "genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza."

Baghaei criticised the "inaction" of the international community in the face of what he described as "gross and unprecedented violations of international rules and norms by Israel," committed with the "comprehensive partnership and complicity of the United States, Britain, and some other Western countries."

He warned that this inaction is "the basis for the collapse of the legal and normative system based on the UN Charter." He cautioned against the "catastrophic consequences of this situation on global peace and security."

Baghaei also underlined the special responsibility of the Muslim world to act. He called for "serious action" from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to support the Palestinian people, expedite the investigation of Israeli leaders at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and implement the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

He further urged the cessation of arms shipments and all financial and economic support to the "occupying regime."