Palestinian Issue Is Test of Whether International Law Still Matters: Iran’s Foreign Minister

Abbas Araghchi Labels Gaza Operations “Genocide,” Warns of Erosion of Global Legal Order
Doha/Tehran, February 7, 2026 — Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has declared the Palestinian issue the ultimate test of whether international law retains any meaningful authority in today’s world.
Delivering a keynote address at the 17th Al Jazeera Forum in Doha, Araghchi described Palestine as “the defining question of justice in West Asia and beyond” and the strategic and moral compass of the region.
He questioned the role of global institutions, asking whether they exist to protect the weak or to provide legitimacy to the interests of the powerful. While the Palestinian crisis was once framed primarily as the result of illegal occupation and denial of fundamental rights, Araghchi argued that the situation has now escalated far beyond that point.
“What is happening in Gaza is not merely a war or a conflict between two equal parties,” he stated. “Civilian life is being deliberately destroyed on a massive scale. This is genocide.”
Araghchi warned that accepting the destruction and forced displacement in Gaza as a model would normalize the replacement of law with force, threatening regional and global stability. He emphasized that justice for Palestine remains the only viable path to sustainable security in West Asia and a functional international order.
The remarks were made during the opening panel of the Al Jazeera Forum, themed around the Palestinian cause and regional power dynamics in a multipolar world. Several speakers at the event highlighted concerns over the perceived erosion of international norms amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.