The leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Major General Hossein Salami, said today that the Palestinians are "not alone" in the fight against Israel, as Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip continue.
"We are with you on this journey to the end and let Palestine and the Palestinians know that they are not alone," Salami said at a meeting in Tehran with the leader of the Palestinian extremist organization Islamic Jihad, Ziad al-Nakhal, France Press reported.
An Islamic Jihad commander was killed in the Israeli attacks that began on Friday afternoon.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced today that the death toll rose to 15, that a five-year-old girl was among the dead, and that 125 people were wounded.
This afternoon, Israeli planes intensified their attacks and hit four residential buildings in Gaza City, all allegedly linked to Islamic Jihad extremists, AP reported.
It was the worst devastation in the latest conflict in the densely populated city, but there were no reports of casualties. In the second attack, a car was hit, killing a 75-year-old woman and injuring six people. Palestinian extremists responded with a barrage of rocket fire at Israel in the biggest conflict in Gaza since the 11-day war in May last year. "Palestinian resistance is stronger today than in the past," said the leader of the Revolutionary Guard, assessing that extremist organizations have the ability to wage major wars. Iran's foreign ministry condemned what it called a "brutal attack" on Gaza. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that Israel "again showed its occupying and aggressive nature to the world," according to a statement from his cabinet. Iran supports Islamic Jihad and Nakhala met with Raisi and other officials during his visit. Israel accuses the Islamic Republic of Iran of smuggling weapons to Palestinian extremist organizations in the Gaza Strip. In March last year, the country announced that it had intercepted two Iranian drones carrying weapons for Gaza.
Egypt proposed a temporary ceasefire
Egyptian mediators today proposed a temporary ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic Jihad organization in the Gaza Strip, Israeli TV Channel 13 reported.
As stated, a cessation of hostilities would be a chance to negotiate a longer-term lull.
However, it has not been said whether any side is ready to accept that proposal almost 24 hours after the start of the Israeli military offensive called "Dawn".
Great Britain called for a quick end to the violence
Great Britain called today for a "swift end" to the violence in the Gaza Strip.
"The UK stands with Israel and its right to defend itself," Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted.
"We condemn terrorist groups for shooting at civilians and the violence that has led to casualties on both sides. We call for a quick end to the violence," Tras added, France Press reported.
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