New fronts possible if Israeli aggression on Gaza continues: Iran

By Wassim Seif El Din

BEIRUT (AA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday said that it is possible to open new fronts against Israel if it continues onslaught against Gaza.

Amir-Abdollahian made the statement to the Beirut-based Al Mayadeen Channel upon his arrival to Beirut early on Friday.

He also said that the Hamas-launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood came in response to "the crimes of the Zionist entity," referring to Israel.

Amir-Abdollahian said that "the Muslim countries and people don't accept the continued violations against the Palestinian people."

He stressed that "Israel and its backers" are fully responsible for the results of the continued attacks on the Palestinian people."

The top Iranian diplomat also said that the talks Iran is conducting with Saudi Arabia comes as part Tehran's strategy to support Palestine.

In a serious development on the course of the Israeli attacks on Gaza, Israel has informed the UN of the necessity of evacuating the northern Gaza Strip within 24 hours.

The Israeli army informed the UN “that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours,” UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement late Thursday.

The ongoing conflict began when the Palestinian resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said it was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip in response.

The number of Palestinians killed from Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip has risen to 1,537, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced Thursday. Among the dead were 500 children and 276 women. More than 6,600 people were injured.

Meanwhile, the Israeli death toll from the Hamas operation has reached 1,300, and the number of wounded was reported to be 3,300, according to Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN).

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar