TEHRAN – Iran has strongly condemned Israel’s violation of truce and the resumption of military aggression, calling for more effective measures to stop the attacks on Gaza.

Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, noted in a post on X that the key to resolving the situation lies in the continuation of the truce, the dispatch of substantial humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the negotiation of an agreement for the exchange of prisoners. 

He asserted that the liberation of prisoners should not be sought through war, as it leads to their tragic demise in bombings.

Warning against the consequences of perpetuating the conflict, Amir Abdollahian expressed concern about the potential for another massacre in Gaza and the West Bank. He pointed out that the decision-makers and the international community appear to underestimate the severe repercussions of returning to a state of war.

Amir Abdollahian emphasized that, in the end, the true determining factor is the will of the Palestinian people. Urging immediate action, he underscored the need to halt the attacks on Gaza before it’s too late.

In a separate social media post on X, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani reacted to Israeli air strikes on buildings in Gaza, minutes after the truce deal expired on Friday morning.

Kanaani stressed the key role of the United States in backing of the apartheid regime which have resulted in the continuation of the hostilities against Gaza. “It is evident that the political and legal responsibility for the ongoing aggression and the relentless massacre of the Palestinian people lies not only with the criminal acts of the Zionist regime but also with the U.S. government and some other countries complicit in this apartheid regime’s actions,” he wrote.

The spokesman further noted that the military attack by the Zionist regime on Friday morning occurred moments before the departure of U.S. Secretary of State Blinken from the occupied territories.

The resumption of hostilities came at about 7am local time (05:00 GMT) on Friday, after efforts to extend the truce failed, resulting in the tragic escalation of violence in the region.

Heavy fighting has broken out across the enclave, including the southern parts, which was previously said to be safe for fleeing civilians.

Gaza’s health ministry reported dozens of Palestinians killed and injured during the initial resumption of Israeli strikes. According to them, at least 21 people were killed, including two people in the north, seven in central Gaza and 12 in the south. Overall, the ministry said nearly 100 people were killed on the first day of Israel's renewed aggression on Gaza.

MAS