Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has held talks with Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders about a new proposal for ceasefire in Gaza, stressing that only the Palestinian people have the right to decide their future.
Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was expected in Cairo on Thursday for talks on the proposed truce in Gaza, which he has said should end Israel’s military invasion of Gaza and secure a full pullout of Israeli forces from the territory.
In his phone talks with Amir-Abdollahian Thursday night, Haniyeh presented a report on the “indescribable resistance and resilience of the Palestinian nation and resistance groups in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and the political plans and initiatives proposed to stop the crimes of the Zionist regime and exchange prisoners”.
He stressed that the “resistance groups, while maintaining their unity and cohesion, will consider the proposed initiatives only if they fulfill the highest interests of the Palestinian nation”.
The proposal for ceasefire, described as a framework, was hammered out between Egypt, Qatar, the US and Israel on Sunday during talks in Paris. The location of the talks meant Hamas negotiators could not be present.
Amir-Abdollahian touched on his recent contacts and meetings with the officials of other countries and international organizations, saying “the immediate cessation of the Zionist regime’s crimes against the homeless people of Gaza” is the key to establishing stability and peace in the region.
The foreign minister also praised “the heroic resistance of the Palestinian nation in the past four months”.
“Only the Palestinian people, as the main owners of this land, have the right to decide on their fate and future, and no party can impose their will and political plans on them,” he added.
Amir-Abdollahian also held talks with Islamic Jihad head Ziyad Nakhala, stressing the need for Palestinian, regional and international efforts to immediately stop the Israeli crimes, provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, and oppose a forced migration of Palestinians.
He said the “resistance of the Palestinian nation in the past four months, despite the widespread crimes of the Zionist regime, is a source of pride for the entire Islamic world, freedom seekers of the world and humanity”.
Nakhala appreciated the support of the leadership, the president, the government and the people of Iran for the cause of the liberation of Palestine and Al-Quds.
“The Palestinian people and the resistance will definitely win the current battle, and the Zionist occupiers will have no choice but to submit to the steely will of the Palestinian people,” he said.
