The Iranian president, Ibrahim Raisi, urged an immediate halt to the bombing in the Gaza Strip, called for lifting the blockade, and pressed for open routes to deliver humanitarian aid. Sources indicate he articulated these points ahead of his travel to the summit of the League of Arab States (LAS) in a briefing with ISNA.
Raisi underscored the need for unity among Islamic nations as events in the Middle East unfold. He stressed that in Gaza the moment calls for decisive action, not merely words, and that collective steps are required to address the crisis.
He described the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza as war crimes and crimes against humanity, stressing that this issue resonates with the Islamic Ummah and with humanity at large. The Iranian leader reiterated that the bombing must stop immediately, the blockade must be lifted, and corridors for humanitarian aid must be opened without delay.
Raisi also pointed to what he characterized as inconsistent signals from the United States. He noted that Washington frequently insists that escalation must be avoided while, from his perspective, it continues to hamper a ceasefire and to broaden the scope of hostilities, complicating regional stability.
On October 7, Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel and announced the opening of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Thousands of militants reportedly crossed into Israeli territory, seizing military equipment and taking more than a hundred hostages. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war.
The Israel Defense Forces launched what it called Operation Iron Swords, with the aim of dismantling Hamas. The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes against hundreds of militant targets across the Gaza Strip, while Israel’s National Security Council moved to cut off water, food, electricity, and fuel to the region. In a UN briefing on October 13, Israel said that about 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza would be evacuated to the south ahead of a possible ground operation.
There has been substantial commentary from Iranian officials predicting the broader fate of Israel in light of these developments, reflecting a broader regional anxiety about the implications for civilians and for ongoing efforts to manage the crisis through diplomacy and humanitarian channels. All parties in the region continue to face a dangerous mix of retaliation, humanitarian needs, and political calculation, with international actors urging restraint and safe corridors for aid and civilians.