IANS | 23 Mar, 2024
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Ismail Haniyeh,
head of the Hamas political bureau, exchanged views over phone two days
ago on the latest developments of Gaza, according to a statement
released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Haniyeh on Friday
elaborated on the latest political and field developments of Gaza,
describing as "critical" the humanitarian situation in northern Gaza,
Xinhua news agency reported.
He said the international community
needed to implement immediate measures to send sufficient humanitarian
aid to Gaza and counter Israel's policy of starvation enforced against
the citizens of the coastal enclave, especially children.
The
Hamas leader elaborated on Hamas' conditions for reaching a truce and
exchanging captives, which he said were based on the Palestinians'
"legitimate demand," stressing that Israel was throwing a wrench into
the process.
Amir-Abdollahian, for his part, briefed the Hamas
leader on Iran's latest consultations and diplomatic efforts in support
of the Palestinians, including the country's active participation in
international meetings on Gaza and the Palestine issue.
He urged
international organisations to take immediate action to end "the killing
of the helpless Palestinian people, including women and children," in
Gaza and the West Bank and guarantee immediate and unlimited
humanitarian aid deliveries to all citizens across Gaza.
A total
of 31,988 Palestinians have been killed and more than 74,188 others were
injured in the Gaza Strip since Israel began its offensive against
Hamas on October 7, 2023, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry on
Thursday.
The war began after Hamas launched an unprecedented
attack on southern Israel, which claimed the lives of around 1,200
Israelis, according to the Israeli authorities.