ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday called on the parliament to reduce American diplomacy in the country, citing Washington’s ongoing support for Israel in its Gaza offensive and recent attacks on Lebanon.

“I call on the parliament to issue a parliamentary decision away from violence to reduce American diplomatic representation as a first step,” wrote Sadr in a statement, accusing the US of supporting Israel’s “acts of terror.”

In addition to its continued attacks on Gaza, Israel has also increased its military activities in Lebanon over the last week. The Israeli air force launched a widespread aerial attack on southern Lebanon on Monday morning, a day after Hezbollah fired over 150 rockets into Israeli territory.

Sadr urged member states of both the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League to “criminalize” interactions with Israel and “impose isolation” on any Arab or Muslim country who normalizes relations with “the Zionist entity.”

He also called for neutralizing “American interference” in Arab and Muslim countries and accused Israel and the US of rejecting decisions of “the international court and humanitarian laws.”

The UN Security Council has adopted several resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza or proposing a ceasefire plan to bring an end to the conflict. The UN Human Rights Council in April passed a resolution calling on states to cease the sale and shipment of weapons to Israel.

In October 2023, Sadr called on the Iraqi government and parliament to shut down the American embassy in Baghdad in protest of the US’ “limitless” backing of Israel. The Shiite cleric has also called for boycotting pro-US and Israel business and products and has staged several of his “million-man” protests in support of Palestine.

Almost a year in, over 41,000 people have been killed as a result of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry.