TEHRAN- As the Israeli regime continues to shell the Gaza Strip, the foreign ministers of Iran and Iraq have requested an urgent meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to review the most recent developments in Palestine.

Hossein Amir Abdollahian of Iran and Fuad Hussein of Iraq spoke over the phone on Sunday and discussed the most recent events in Palestine.

According to the website of the Foreign Ministry, the two parties stressed the need for cooperation and unity among the Islamic countries in assisting the oppressed Palestinian people.

Additionally, they encouraged the OIC to convene an urgent summit to assess recent events in Palestine and offer support for the Palestinian people and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in opposition to the Zionist regime’s aggressive measures.

The Palestinian population has a right to resist invasion and occupation, the Iranian foreign minister said.

Amir Abdollahian also stated that the spontaneous operations of the Palestinian resistance groups are a natural response to the continuous aggression and extreme actions of the Zionist regime against Islamic holy sites and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the continuation of the crimes and killings against the Palestinian nation, especially women, children and prisoners.

He also demanded that the Islamic nations take concerted and decisive measures to support Palestine and stop the Zionist regime’s violent onslaught against Palestinian children and women in the West Bank and Gaza.

After publicly declaring war on the Palestinian Hamas group, the Zionist regime has been unstoppably pounding the besieged Gaza Strip. Its military said some 100,000 reserve troops have amassed near Gaza.

At least three locations in the southernmost sections of the occupied territories, including a kibbutz in Karmia and the cities of Ashkelon and Sderot, are still the scene of fierce combat between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces.

Health officials estimate that 413 Palestinians and more than 700 Israelis have been killed as of the most recent count.

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said they are holding more than 130 Israelis captive inside Gaza.

After Israeli settlers seized the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in recent days and a record number of Palestinians were slaughtered by Israel in recent months, Hamas launched its surprise attack on October 7.

In two separate calls on Sunday with Esmail Haniyeh, the chief of the Hamas political bureau, and Ziyad Nakhala, the secretary-general of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned the Israeli regime against making warmongering steps, saying that equations in the region have changed.

The Iranian president also issued a message on the situation in Palestine. He welcomed the Palestinian operation against the Zionist regime of Israel, saying that the operation frightened and startled the world of oppression.

He said the Palestinians took the initiative and showed that steely determination prevails over all kinds of weaponry.

The president underlined that Iran invites all the world to observe the truth that the accumulation of oppression and injustice against the Palestinian people, the continuation of insults to the women and prisoners, and sacrilege to the Al-Aqsa Mosque cannot last forever and will be met with resistance by nations.

“Muslim nations must band together to defend Palestinians”

In a late Sunday phone call with the Taliban’s caretaker foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, Iran’s foreign minister urged all Muslim countries to band together in support of the Palestinian people and the al-Aqsa Mosque site.

The two parties spoke on the most recent events in the Gaza Strip, particularly Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which is now underway and is the largest military action against the Israeli regime in years.

Amir Abdollahian and his acting Afghan counterpart addressed Palestinian resistance to occupation and Israeli settlers’ regular breaches of the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Mottaqi, for his part, stated that the Taliban’s foreign ministry is closely monitoring the situation in Gaza and has already released a strongly worded statement in support of the Palestinian people and denunciation of Zionist oppressors.

Amir Abdollahian also expressed condolences to Muttaqi over the recent deadly earthquake in Afghanistan, along with sympathy of the Iranian government and nation for the Afghan people.

He continued by saying that Iran has already sent relief and rescue teams to the quake-affected areas, and that they had got there on Sunday night.

Muttaqi expressed appreciation for the support and compassion of the Iranian people as well as the sending of rescue teams from Iran.

“Gaza bombings by Zionist forces make situation worse”

In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Amir Abdollahian and Hungary’s Foreign and Trade Minister Peter Siarto exchanged views on the promotion of bilateral relations and recent developments in West Asia, especially Palestine.

In reference to Israel’s repeated violations of UN resolutions, continued occupation of Palestinian lands, and the continued settlements in the West Bank, the Iranian foreign minister stressed that “the continuation of the Israeli regime’s attacks on Gaza in the current situation will complicate the situation and increase the possibility of the spread of war.”

Amir Abdollahian also emphasized the Zionist regime’s ongoing violations of international law and the development of its belligerent activities.

For his part, the foreign minister of Hungary emphasized that conversation and collaboration are the best approaches to settling regional disputes and declared that his country always aims to bring about peace and save human life in such circumstances.

Siarto expressed optimism for the resolution of the crisis in West Asia while emphasizing the necessity for all nations to assume accountability and play their respective roles.

Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the positive trend of relations based on mutual trust.