TEHRAN (IRNA) -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that current developments in Gaza are rooted in the past 60 years of occupation and ""Our Islamic and humanitarian responsibilities” urge us to support the Palestinians in defending their legitimate rights

President Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a meeting with Ahmad Khalifa Niaz, the special envoy of the Senegalese President whose country currently chairs OIC presidency.
Ahmadinejad said the Zionist regime, with the support of some Western countries, has targeted innocent Palestinians in Gaza.
The future belongs to Muslims and justice-seeking nations and the Zionists and their supporters are the losers, he said.
Political and spiritual support for Palestinians is among the crucial responsibilities of Islamic countries, he said, adding that the OIC was established to defend Palestine.
The least the organization can do is to halt atrocities of the Zionist regime and help break Gaza blockade, he said.
Senegalese president as the current chairman of OIC should take initiative to this end, he said, adding that he should do his utmost to control the situation and help reopen Gaza crossings.
The Senegalese envoy, for his part, submitted the written message from his country's president and describing the current situation in Gaza as very grave.
He added that his country as the OIC presidency agrees with Iran's stands on Gaza and try to find an effective strategy to put an end to Israeli crimes in Gaza.
He said the Islamic Republic of Iran enjoys a very suitable position among world Muslims on the issue of Palestine.