PALESTINIAN President Mahmoud Abbas said Iran could retaliate against Israel in the coming hours in response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
“A decision may be taken in the next few days or even hours,” Abbas said in an interview with Russian news agency TASS.
He added that there is intense dialogue between many countries. The pressing question is the extent of Iran’s response to Haniyeh’s death.
Abbas noted that the United States (US) is actively involved in the negotiations and stated that Washington’s pressure could push the situation towards further escalation.
The Palestinian leader stressed that the main issue is the decisions each country will take and the risks they are prepared to take.
He also criticized the US for blocking international recognition of Palestine and hampering the peace process, despite the adoption of resolutions.
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Abbas praised Russia’s efforts in the Middle East and stressed that Moscow has always supported Palestine.
“I don’t remember Russia ever treating us badly or being against us. Whatever we asked for, they were always ready to help,” he said.
He also stressed that Palestine will never agree to exclude Russia from the Middle East Quartet on the Palestine-Israel settlement which includes the EU, UN, US and Russia.
Also read: Iran Has a Moral Obligation to Punish Israel for Killing Haniyeh
Flaunting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid ongoing brutal attacks on Gaza since an October offensive by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
Nearly 40,000 people have been killed, mostly children and women. More than 92,000 others have been injured, according to local health authorities.
Israeli forces have also carried out regular raids in various areas of the West Bank, which have increased since the start of the Gaza conflict on October 7, 2023. Palestinians also face violent attacks by illegal Israeli settlers.
Since then, at least 630 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 5,400 others injured by Israeli army gunfire in the occupied territories, according to the Health Ministry.
The International Court of Justice accused Israel of genocide and ordered a halt to its military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians sought refuge before it was stormed on May 6. (Yenisafak/Z-2)
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