Iran's first lady raps Israel over oppressing Gaza women

The wife of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks out to keep alive the memory of Palestinian women and children suffering from a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Iranian First Lady Azam Farahi urged world countries to take seriously the crisis in the Gaza strip, where according to UN reports, over one million people are living in abject poverty in the wake of a long-imposed crippling economic siege and a devastating Israeli offensive.

"The World needs to hear the voice of Palestinian women and children," said Farahi in a Sunday address to a meeting between the first ladies of countries that are members to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Chaired by Suzanne Sabet, the wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the meeting took place on the eve of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) summit on food security.

Farahi said the Israeli regime has no right to continue its crippling siege on Gaza, which has triggered a steady deterioration of health conditions in the coastal territory.

Israel's stranglehold on Gaza has made as much as 80% of Gazan residents dependent on aid from the United Nations. The siege has led to the collapse of 90% of Gazan businesses, simply furthering hardships for civilians.