Islam Times - Iran Expresses Hope for Ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon

Islam Times - Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi said that there are initiatives for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon which have been under Israel's military onslaught for a year, voicing hope that the endeavours will lead to results.

Araqchi arrived in Damascus on Saturday to discuss regional developments and bilateral relations with Syrian officials. He visited Lebanon for the first time since the leader of Hezbollah, Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, was assassinated in a Beirut air attack, and met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri.

Upon his arrival in Damscus, the top diplomat said there are initiatives for a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, which he hopes would bear fruit amid the continuous hostilities and crimes by the Israeli regime.

The minister said, while in Beirut, he held “very important negotiations” with the Lebanese officials.

“The aim of trip to Damascus is to continue negotiations over developments in the region. In Beirut, I had very important negotiations with Lebanese government officials”, he continued.

Araqchi added that he will continue talks on developments in West Asia with Syrian government officials, with a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza being the most important topic.

“There are initiatives in this regard. Consultations have been held, which we hope would bear fruit. But unfortunately, the enmities and crimes of the Zionist regime continue”, the top diplomat noted, reiterating that the Israeli regime knows no language but the language of force, war and crimes.

The regime knows no language other than force and war, and continues its crimes in the besieged enclave and Beirut on a daily basis, he said.
"We need a collective effort in the global community to stop these crimes," the foreign minister stressed.

Israel’s October-present genocidal war on Gaza has killed over 41,780 people, mostly children and women, and injured more than 96,900 others.
The figures exclude tens of thousands of dead who are believed to be buried in the bombed-out ruins of homes, shops, shelters and other buildings.

The military campaign has turned much of the enclave of 2.3 million people into ruins, leaving most civilians homeless and at risk of famine.
Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the war-ravaged territory.

The escalation against Lebanon, which began following the launch of the military onslaught on the Gaza Strip in last October, has witnessed the regime carrying out countless deadly attacks against the Lebanese territory.

At least 2,000 people have been killed and about 10,000 wounded in Lebanon in a year of Israeli military campaign, with most of the deaths occurring in the past two weeks.

Heavy Israeli bombardment have forced many families to flee the densely populated neighbourhoods in Beirut during the past days.

As the Zionist regime continues its bombing campaign, Hezbollah pledges it will continue to confront Israel in support of the besieged enclave and in defence of Lebanon.