Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, reiterated his country’s intention to retaliate against the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Araghchi mentioned during a conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that Iran’s response to the Israeli terrorist attack will be definitive, measured, and well-calculated. He emphasized that while Iran does not fear escalation, they do not seek it, unlike Israel.
In response, Tajani urged restraint and a constructive approach to halt the cycle of military actions in the region, which could lead to further suffering. He specifically highlighted the importance of Iran exercising moderation towards Hezbollah to avoid escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, where Italian soldiers from the UNIFIL contingent operate, and towards the Houthis to prevent increased tensions in the Red Sea area, where Italy plays a significant role in the EU’s Aspides mission.
Following clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the high-level talks in Cairo aiming to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal to temporarily end the 10-month Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza concluded without a final agreement. However, lower-level discussions will continue in the coming days with the involvement of mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt in an attempt to resolve remaining disagreements.
Israel’s military announced the delivery of polio vaccines for over 1 million people in Gaza, following the first confirmed case of the disease in the region in 25 years. The distribution of more than 25,000 vials of vaccine in Gaza, amidst ongoing conflicts and unrest, poses challenges to humanitarian efforts. Suspected polio cases across Gaza have been reported after the virus was found in wastewater in six different locations in July.
Efforts are underway by aid groups to vaccinate over 600,000 children under 10 years old, with calls for a temporary pause in the conflict to increase vaccination coverage. The World Health Organization and UNICEF have emphasized the necessity of a seven-day ceasefire at a minimum. The U.N. aims to deliver 1.6 million doses of polio vaccine to Gaza, where displaced Palestinians face unsanitary living conditions, with limited access to clean water and proper waste disposal.