Iran says Gaza cease-fire currently part of its priorities

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Iran on Thursday said the Gaza cease-fire is currently part of the country's priorities, along with the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

The Iranian state news agency IRNA cited a statement by the Iranian permanent mission to the UN responding to a question whether Iran "would reverse its plans to take revenge on Israel" if a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is reached.

The Iranian mission responded by affirming that the first priority was "a durable Gaza cease-fire," while its second priority was to respond to Israel's violation of Iran's sovereignty and assassination of the leader of the Palestinian Hamas group Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran last week, to prevent a repetition of such "aggression" by Israel.

Earlier on Wednesday, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters that they are “as close" as they think they "have ever been” to reaching a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

Mediation efforts to reach a cease-fire have been so far stalled due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to stop the war.

Israel is on a high military alert for a potential Iranian attack following last week’s assassination of Hamas political chief Haniyeh in Tehran.

While Hamas and Iran accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination, Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

The tension between Israel and Iran comes amid Israel’s devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 91,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

Over 10 months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.