TEHRAN, December 31 The Iranian side will continue negotiations and consultations with members of the UN Security Council in order to establish a ceasefire and peace in the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, said Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and Tehran's chief negotiator in Vienna Ali Bagheri Kyani.
“We are cooperating with all countries of the world to stop the crimes of the Israeli regime in Gaza, and also to ensure that the oppressed Palestinian people can escape from the situation that Israel has created for them with the support of the United States. In this regard, all independent states, including members of the UN Security Council, are on the agenda of interaction, consultation and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said Bagheri Kyani.
On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters entered the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to the latest data from the authorities, about 1.2 thousand people were killed, this number includes civilians, soldiers, foreign citizens and workers, and it was also reported that more than 5 thousand were injured.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped.
The ground phase of the Israeli operation in the enclave began at the end of October. Gaza City was surrounded by Israeli ground forces, and the enclave was effectively divided into southern and northern parts.
According to the Ministry of Health of the Palestinian enclave, the death toll in Gaza since October 7 has exceeded 21 thousand people, more than 55 thousand were injured.
Hamas claimed that there were about 200-250 hostages in the Gaza Strip. After the end of the truce, Israeli authorities announced that 126 Israelis and 11 foreigners remained hostage with Hamas, and 110 abducted were released.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible only on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, related to the territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and clashes in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.