TEHRAN- Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has stated that the world’s Muslim nations and free nations must take “decisive and immediate” measures to halt Israel’s “killing machine” as the conflict in Gaza continues to cost more civilian lives.

In a phone conversation with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Saturday, Raisi highlighted that the unrestricted backing by Western nations, notably the United States, for Israel’s misdeeds has led to greater complications and worsening of the situation

He went on to say that the Palestinian resistance groups began Operation Al-Aqsa Storm as a result of the regime’s crimes becoming more severe in recent months, adding that the action had upended Zionist-Western calculations.

The president further warned of the plots by Israel and its allies in launching bloodbath in Gaza and forcing Palestinians to flee the city, as the Tel Aviv regime has cut off water, food, medicine and electricity to the besieged enclave and blocking aid to the people.

Raisi also urged the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and other international circles to address the current dire situation in Gaza.

Raisi stated Iran has always prioritized the growth of ties with Oman based on good neighborliness and mutual trust in other parts of his speech.

The president also praised Muscat for its positive contributions to the resolution of regional and global problems.

For his part, the Sultan of Oman lauded Iran’s support for the downtrodden Palestinian people and said that Israel shouldn’t be let to forcibly evict them from their homes once more.

Israel started its onslaught on October 7 after resistance groups launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the occupying regime in decades.

The Israeli shelling of Gaza has resulted in well over 2,260 fatalities, including over 700 children, and over 9,800 injuries, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israel’s military issued a statement on Friday ordering Gaza City inhabitants to leave the region within 24 hours. This move is seen as a prelude to an occupation ground assault.

The military would be operating “significantly” in the city over the next several days, it said, and civilians wouldn’t be allowed to return until an additional announcement was made. This amounted to more than a million people living north of the Gaza Strip.

In the same day, Raisi discussed the developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories with Iraq’s Prime Minister and the Emir of Qatar during separate phone calls.

The two officials slammed the Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians.

The two sides stressed the importance of the international community taking action in the face of the serious human rights violations in the occupied territories, lifting the unjust and inhumane siege on Gaza, and providing safe passages for civilians and the passage of urgent humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

While speaking to the ruler of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Raisi discussed bilateral relations as well as the situation in Gaza.

The Emir, for his part, stressed the importance of making efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region and protect civilian lives. He also highlighted Qatar’s firm opposition to the killing and displacement of Palestinians by the Israeli regime.

Iran suggests ways to end brutality against Gazans

In previous days the Iranian president also held talks with the Saudi crown prince and Syrian president over the Gaza issue. Similarly, the Iranian parliament speaker held talks with the parliament speakers of the seven countries over the issue.

In his call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Raisi underlined that Iran and Saudi Arabia as two key players should support the Palestinian nation.

Raisi stated that Iran believes in deepening ties with Saudi Arabia based on the unity of the Islamic world and principles of neighborliness.

The Tehran-Riyadh ties help stabilize and secure the region, according to Raisi, insisting on unity and principles of neighborliness.

Describing the two countries as “key players”, Raisi said the two sides share common beliefs and interests, especially on issues related to the Islamic world, most importantly the oppressed Palestinian nation.

Continuous oppression and systematic discrimination of the Zionist apartheid regime against the oppressed Palestinians were the main causes of recent tensions, Raisi added, emphasizing the Islamic Ummah has to defend the oppressed Palestinians.

According to the Iranian president, the Zionist regime’s oppression has not affected the determination of the Palestinians to defend their rights, and the world is witnessing the braveries of the resistance forces.

The president went on to say that the Israeli cut-off of water, food, fuel, medicine, and electricity to Gaza is “shameful”, noting this is a revenge for the humiliating defeats they suffered at the hands of resistance forces.

Later in the call, he reminded the necessity of Islamic countries’ cooperation and convergence to stop the aggression and crimes of the Zionist regime.

The Al-Aqsa Storm Operation launched by resistance forces in Gaza on October 7 dealt a blow to the Israeli regime which it has not seen since it came into existence in 1948.

Certain Western countries, particularly the U.S., Britain, and Germany, have expressed strong support for Israel. The U.S. and Britain have even sent aircraft carriers to the Eastern Mediterranean in a show of support for Israel.

President Raisi said that the current uproar by the West is due to their miscalculation about the situation in West Asia.

The president suggested that the only basic solution is to pay attention to the rights of the Palestinians through a free and fair referendum in which the Palestinians can determine their future.

The Zionist regime has been committing indescribable crimes in Gaza since October 7. It is been bombarding residential houses and using white phosphorous munitions which is banned under international law. It is also targeting convoys of people fleeing from the city of Gaza.

“Painful and dangerous”

For his part, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called the recent tensions in Gaza “painful and dangerous”.

What is currently happening, regarding the violation of Palestinian rights, can lead to more tensions and cause further insecurity even in the West, the Saudi de facto leader remarked.

On the importance of the Palestine issue, bin Salman said leaving the issue unsolved may cause more difficulties. Yet, he said, Tehran-Riyad’s cooperation can play an effective role in stopping the massacre and reaching a just solution.

‘Storm Operation showed Palestinians’ rights cannot be ignored’

Later, Iran’s Raisi held a call with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad over the Gaza issue and the escalation of tensions.

The Iranian and Syrian presidents insisted on common efforts to stop the Zionist regime’s crimes against Palestinians.

Raisi said one of the merits of the Al-Aqsa Storm Operation was that there could not be any new order in the region without considering the rights of the oppressed Palestinians.

Later the president insisted on the necessity of cooperation and convergence of all the Islamic countries and freedom seekers on the Palestine issue.

‘Israel was much weaker than what it had been claiming’

The Syrian president, for his part, stated that the victories of the axis of resistance proved that the Israeli regime was much weaker than what it had been claiming.

Assad underlined the need to accelerate the formation of a united approach to support the Palestinians.

Regarding concerns over the condition of the civilians in the Gaza Strip, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also held talks on Thursday with the seven countries’ parliament speakers, including Türkiye, Algeria, Syria, the UAE, Lebanon, Oman, and Kuwait, discussing the Zionist regime’s brutalities against Gazans with them.

Ghalibaf condemned the massacre of Palestinian women and children and asked for a follow-up on the rights of the people of Gaza at the international level.

Later he urged an immediate halt to the Zionists' crimes through the cooperation of Islamic countries and sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.

He suggested holding a virtual meeting of the parliamentary union of the OIC member states with a focus on ending the cruel attacks of the Zionist regime on the people of Gaza and reviewing practical solutions to help the people of Gaza.

The proposals by the Iranian parliament speaker were welcomed by his Turkish, Algerian, Syrian, Emirati, Lebanese, Omani, and Kuwaiti counterparts.