Iranian President Raisi called on Muslim and Arab countries to cooperate in confronting Israel when it is conducting air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
“Today, all Muslim and Arab countries, as well as all free people in the world, must reach a consensus and seriously cooperate to stop the Jewish government’s crimes against its people. Oppressed people of Palestine,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in a phone call on October 11.
Mr. Raisi announced that to prevent “Jews from genociding Palestinians,” Iran will coordinate with Muslim countries “as soon as possible.”
He also criticized Arab countries that have recently normalized or are discussing establishing relations with Israel.
“All countries that publicize their relationship with the Jewish government under the pretext of protecting the rights of the Palestinian people are disgraceful. What has happened proves to the whole world that the Jewish government is in its weakest state,” he added.
President Assad also emphasized that “Arab and Muslim countries need to act quickly to protect the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip, and stop Israel’s attacks on children and women.”
On the same day, Mr. Raisi had a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss “the need to end war crimes against Palestine,” said political assistant to the President of Iran, Mohammad Jamshidi.
The Saudi Crown Prince emphasized “must comply with the principles of international humanitarian law and expressed deep concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as the impact on civilians.” The crown prince said the kingdom is making maximum efforts to cooperate with all parties to prevent the ongoing escalation.
Israel launched a retaliation campaign, blockading and blocking all supplies of food, fuel and necessities into the Gaza Strip after Hamas on October 7 launched a series of rockets, launching a coordinated attack by land and air and sea routes into Israel. Israel’s Defense Minister announced on October 11 that he would “erase Hamas from the face of the Earth”.
The clash left about 1,300 people in Israel dead and more than 3,000 injured. At least 1,200 people were killed in the Gaza Strip, and nearly 5,800 were injured.
Iran, a country that supports Hamas, affirmed that it was not involved in the Hamas raid. Reuters on October 11, citing anonymous sources familiar with US intelligence, said that Iran’s top leaders knew in advance of Hamas’s campaign against Israel but “did not understand the exact timing and scale,” causing them to be Completely surprised when conflict broke out.
