Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi dispatched a letter to the leaders of fifty nations, including Russia and China, urging stronger international pressure on Israel regarding the Gaza situation and the Hamas movement. The appeal signals Tehran’s effort to mobilize allies in addressing the crisis and seeking a unified stance among influential capitals.
The correspondence also reached Ankara, Astana, Pretoria and Nairobi, among others. The exchange underscored a shared interest among several states in shaping regional dynamics and promoting what Tehran frames as a collective approach to the conflict in the Middle East.
In the message, Raisi pressed these presidents to pursue “unity and coordination among free and independent states to apply pressure on Israel,” framing cooperation as essential to advancing peace and regional stability amid near-term volatility.
On November 12, Riyadh hosted an Arab-Islamic summit attended by leaders from Turkey and Iran. The participants articulated a key condition for establishing normal relations with Israel: the end of the occupation of Arab lands in Palestine that followed the 1967 boundaries and the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The rhetoric emphasized a lasting solution anchored in a two-state framework and regional recognition of Palestinian rights.
The Middle East tension deepened after Hamas militants crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, launching what Hamas called Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war and mobilized security and military resources to counter the incursion and restore order.
Israel’s objective in its campaign, labeled Operation Iron Sword, centered on neutralizing the armed threat, securing the release of more than 200 hostages including foreigners, and dismantling Hamas infrastructure. In parallel, Israel’s National Security Council authorized restrictions on essential supplies entering Gaza, including water, food, electricity, and fuel, to pressure Hamas and influence battlefield conditions. Humanitarian aid began arriving through the Rafah crossing starting October 20, but the flow remained limited and contentious for civilians in need of relief.
By October 27, Israel expanded its ground operation in Gaza. The exact start date remained unclear, but the assault followed a period when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled to shelters or moved southward to escape targeting. By November 5, as IDF forces tightened their hold on Gaza City, urban centers faced renewed clashes while central Gaza continued to experience active combat operations.
Observations from analysts and political scientists point to several enduring drivers behind the flare-up in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including territorial claims, security concerns, and the broader regional contest for influence. The events have drawn international attention and prompted calls for de-escalation, humanitarian access, and a renewed push toward a sustainable political settlement that acknowledges both Israeli security needs and Palestinian statehood aspirations.