Iran has dismissed a request made by European leaders from Britain, France, and Germany on Tuesday, urging the country to abstain from any retaliatory actions that could intensify tensions in the region. The European leaders had called on Iran and its allies to refrain from seeking retaliation for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran the previous month, with Iran attributing blame to Israel for the incident. Iran deemed the request as “excessive.”
The European leaders also voiced support for ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States aimed at reaching a resolution to end the Israel-Hamas conflict. They also emphasized the need for the release of numerous hostages held by Hamas and for unimpeded humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. These mediators have been striving for months to secure an agreement based on a three-phase plan under which Hamas would release remaining hostages taken during an attack on October 7 in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, and Israel would withdraw from Gaza.
Following more than 10 months of conflict, the death toll among Palestinians in Gaza is nearing 40,000, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.
In another development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Tuesday that a breach had occurred in the status quo governing the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a highly sensitive holy site in Jerusalem. A far-right minister, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited the site and engaged in prayer there, which is prohibited under the established arrangement at the site. The visit was viewed as provocative, especially amid rising tensions in the region following the targeted killings of two top militants.
Furthermore, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian defended Iran’s right to retaliate against Israel over the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, during a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Pezeshkian emphasized that retaliation is a nation’s right and a means to deter future aggression, criticizing the West’s silence over perceived Israeli atrocities and urging for peace and stability in the region.
In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 16 Palestinians, including women and children, with details emerging of devastating consequences for families within the region. The casualties included multiple children and infants, further escalating tensions in the area. Israel has maintained that it aims to avoid harm to civilians, holding Hamas responsible for operating within civilian-populated areas where airstrikes occur.
