Iran Warns Israel of Next Phase of Resistance Front’s Military Operation in Case of Continuation of Bombardment

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that the resistance movements would adopt appropriate measures if the Israeli regime continues its relentless bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip which has so far killed nearly 9,000, mostly children and women.

The Iranian diplomat made the remarks upon return to Tehran from a two-way trip that took him to Qatar and Turkey.

Amir Abdollahian stated Tehran and Doha are working on political initiatives on establishment of an immediate temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip which is under heavy bombardment by the Israeli regime for more than 26 days.

“There is talk in Qatar about the idea of truce that could [possibly] lead to extensive transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he said.

“Under the aegis of the truce, we will witness exchange of civilian prisoners between the two sides, which includes the release of all female Palestinians prisoners,” the Iranian foreign minister added.

The Palestinian resistance, he said, is after the freedom of Palestinian women, adolescents, and children from Israeli jails.

Amir Abdollahian added the Israeli regime’s attacks on Gaza had so far resulted in the deaths of some 50 captives held by the Palestinian resistance, citing head of Hamas’ Politburo Ismail Haniyeh’s remarks.

“Some of these captives were being held in the basement of hospitals that were thought to be safe,” he continued, noting some of the victims perished during Israeli airstrikes against the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza in mid-October.

He added the Israeli regime was “madly” bombing civilians, including women and children, “due to the confusion and shock that they have received” from Palestinians’ military operation.

Amir Abdollahian also stated preparations were underway for leaders of the members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to meet in Saudi Arabia “in near future”.

In Qatar and Turkey, the Iranian foreign minister said, he followed up President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi’s earlier consultations with the leaders of various Muslim and Arab countries about holding of an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed President Rayeesi’s proposal for “immediate” convention of the meeting, the foreign minister added.

Amid the prospect of such summit or even a meeting of the world’s Arab leaders, the Palestinian resistance would take “appropriate decisions” in case of continuation of the Israeli regime’s attacks on Gaza, Amir Abdollahian cautioned.

Tehran stress the resistance groups are currently considering various options in response to the Israeli regime act of aggression and relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Iranian officials say the war with the resistance front has fruited nothing but failure for Israel, adding that the resistance groups’ response to Israeli relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip will change the current map of the occupied territories.

On October 7, Hamas launched a multi-pronged surprise military operation via land, sea and air. The group announced it was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians. The attacks have so far killed more than 1,400 and injured over 5,000, according to Israeli officials. Hamas also announced it is holding between at least 200 and 250 hostages.

Following the multi-front attack by Hamas, Israel carried out heavy bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 8,800 Palestinians, including at least 3,600 children and over 2,300 women, and wounding over 20,000 others, and levelling entire neighbourhoods.

Tel Aviv has ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, saying it would halt its supply of electricity, food, water and fuel. Israel’s military has also ordered 1.1 million people living in Northern Gaza to evacuate their homes, amid signs it is set to ramp up its offensive.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Tel Aviv will not agree to a ceasefire with the Palestinian movement Hamas because it would mean surrender. He added Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip has entered its third stage which includes expanding ground operations in the enclave.

The bombing, as well as enforced displacement orders by the Israeli Army, has pushed 1.5 million people out of their homes.

The Gaza Health Ministry has confirmed that the healthcare system in the besieged territory has “totally collapsed due to the Israeli war”.

The UN agencies have warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is “catastrophic”, calling for more international help as conditions deteriorate in the densely populated besieged enclave.

Iranian officials say the current status in West Asia resembled a powder keg which could spiral out of control. They caution that if diplomatic efforts to stop Israeli relentless bombardment and prevent a ground offensive on Gaza are unsuccessful, there is a risk of the conflict escalating uncontrollably, with multiple regional players joining the fight.

Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on Earth, where some 2 million people live in an area of 140 square miles. It has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 17 years. More than half of its population lives in poverty and is food insecure, with nearly 80% of its population relying on humanitarian assistance.

Tehran says the history of the apartheid regime is full of assassinations, massacre, torture and killing of Palestinian kids, and described Tel Aviv regime’s atrocities and massacre of Palestinian women and children as indicative of the destitute of Zionists. Iranian officials say the Tel Aviv regime has been struggling for more than 70 years to exit its identity crisis which has been mixed with genocide, plunder, forced displacement and scores of other inhumane moves.