Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jul 5: Iran has accused Israel of committing war crimes after releasing footage allegedly showing the aftermath of an airstrike on the Evin Prison medical facility in Tehran, which the Iranian Foreign Ministry claims killed 79 people.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei posted a video on X, stating the June 23 attack targeted a facility where inmates’ families, prison staff, and civilians were gathered. He described the victims as being “trapped and burned to death under the rubble,” condemning the assault as a “blatant war crime” and a violation of international humanitarian law.
“New dimensions of Netanyahu’s war crimes are emerging. No person of conscience can remain silent. Israel must be held accountable for its atrocities,” Baqaei said in his post.
The Israeli government has not denied the strike, with Defence Minister Israel Katz confirming that Evin Prison, along with other “oppressive regime sites,” had been deliberately targeted.
“Under instructions from PM Netanyahu and myself, the IDF struck regime targets in Tehran — including Evin Prison, Basij HQ, IRGC facilities, and other entities of oppression,” Katz stated on X.
Evin Prison is notorious for housing political detainees, human rights activists, foreign nationals, and journalists. The strike, part of a broader escalation since June 13, marks a significant intensification of hostilities.
Following the attacks, UN experts expressed deep concern over the treatment of prisoners and civilians. In a statement on Friday, they condemned both the Israeli airstrikes and Iran's internal response post-conflict.
“Post-conflict scenarios must not be exploited to increase repression. Many detainees were moved to overcrowded prisons like Qarchak and the Great Tehran Penitentiary, reportedly facing inhumane conditions. The fate of some remains unknown — amounting to enforced disappearances,” read a statement from the UN Human Rights Office.
With rising casualties and worsening humanitarian concerns, calls for international accountability and restraint continue to grow, even as tensions between Iran and Israel escalate.