Iran Warns Israel of More Surprises by Palestine in Case of Continuation of Gaza War

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian called on the Israeli regime to stop the war on the besieged Gaza Strip, warning that if the bloody conflict continues, another surprise move by Palestinian fighters will lay in store for Zionists.

Amir Abdollahian made the remarks at a joint press briefing with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara on Wednesday, as the civilian death toll in the besieged territory and the desperate humanitarian conditions have caused great concern across the world and food, fuel, drinking water and medicine are running out and hospitals struggle to treat casualties.

“In my yesterday meeting, political officials of Hamas noted that in case the war is not stopped, the region would be closer to the level of taking a bigger decision,” the Iranian diplomat said.

“If the war is not stopped, [the responsibility] for the expansion of the war directly lies with the Zionist regime and the US. Washington should accept the responsibility for its all-out support for the killing of people and deal with its consequences,” he added.

“If the war continues, the conditions won’t remain the same and the resistance will make another surprise move,” the minister cautioned.

Amir Abdollahian said Iran continues to follow up on political talks to end the Israeli bombing as soon as possible.

The minister also added Hamas has informed Tehran that 50 captives have been killed in Israeli bombardments so far.

“Hamas informed us that during the bombardments over the past 26 days, some prisoners who were held in safe zones like hospitals have been killed. The number of these people stands at 50,” he stated.

“The Israeli regime uses all types of banned weapons. If you follow the Gaza reports, [the number of] those killed and injured indicates the type and diversity of the banned weapons used,” the diplomat continued.

Amir Abdollahian said Iran has proposed a conference of heads of Muslim states aimed at stopping Israeli war crimes, adding that the idea has been welcomed by many Muslim leaders. He expressed hope the conference will be held soon.

He also called on the Muslim world to boycott Israeli products.

Fidan, for his part, said Turkey doesn’t want the conflict in Gaza to spiral into a regional war.

“It is not difficult to predict that this spiral of violence will grow” without a permanent solution to the war, he warned.

The Iranian foreign minister “shared with us that there are strong indications other armed elements in the region may intervene in the conflict if conditions do not change,” Fidan added.

“A ceasefire and peace have become more essential,” the minister continued, noting, “We do not want the human tragedy in Gaza to turn into a war that affects regional countries.”

“We continue working first for a cease-fire, then permanent peace,” he stated.

He reiterated that his country was prepared to “take responsibility and be guarantor” in the ongoing conflict.

Pointing to pro-Palestine protests worldwide, including Western countries, the Turkish minister said the international community must now focus on what it can do for what he called permanent peace in Palestine.

Fidan further slammed “different standards” for Ukraine and Palestine, stressing that “if we want a fair world, we must always act with integrity and consistency”.

He also slammed the EU for siding with Israel and the US and refusing to work towards achieving a ceasefire.

“The European Union doesn’t want to hear the word ‘cease-fire’ due to its position next to the US which Israel determines,” Fidan argued.

Fidan also added Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi is set to visit Turkey “soon”.

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.