Iran’s Rouhani, Qatari Emir Discuss Gaza Crisis
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by phone with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Tuesday, to discuss the latest situation in the Gaza Strip, with both officials supporting the Palestinian resistance against Israel’s military assault.
Silence on the Gaza catastrophe is not admissible, Rouhani told the Qatari ruler, adding, “The regional situation necessitates closer consultation and cooperation between the two countries.”
The president said all Muslims are now faced with a “great historic dilemma”, and urged the Islamic countries to join hands to make a change in the life of Gaza residents and help secure a durable ceasefire in the war-torn enclave.
“People of Gaza will not tolerate the repetition of the previous cruel conditions and continuation of several-year-old blockade,” Rouhani noted.
Qatar’s Emir, for his part, described Gaza’s fight against Israel as “defense of honor”, stressing that nobody could prevent people of Gaza from doing what they do.
In recent weeks, Iran has stepped up diplomatic efforts to drum up support for crisis-ridden Gaza.
On July 8, Israel launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip. After 10 days of bombardment of the enclave from the air and sea, the Israeli forces started a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
The death toll from the three-week-old Israeli onslaught on Gaza has reached over 1,100 and nearly 6,000 have been wounded.
