TEHRAN – Iran and Egypt are calling for coordinated action by Islamic countries to end Israeli “genocide” in Gaza and escalate attacks in Lebanon, warning that it will exacerbate the humanitarian and security crisis across the region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatti held a telephone conversation late Thursday to discuss the local emergency and the urgent need for joint response.
According to a statement by Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Friday, the minister condemned the “cruel siege” in Gaza, warned of Israel’s plans to intensify military operations and fully occupy the enclave. They stressed that Islamic countries have a responsibility to act decisively, stop bloodshed, and ensure the immediate provision of humanitarian aid.
The meeting came when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to “prepare to take control of Gaza city.” Gaza has endured merciless artillery fire and blockade since October 2023, killing more than 61,000 Palestinians. Restrictions on food and aid in Israel have produced artificial hunger in which at least 197 people, including children, have died of starvation.
Turning to Lebanon, Aragut and Abdelatti stressed the need for internal unity and warned against measures that could cause conflict within the country. They called on Israel to withdraw entirely from the occupied territory in southern Lebanon and to halt the ongoing attack in violation of the ceasefire.
Lebanon’s tensions were heightened by US Israel’s pressure on Hezbollah’s disarmament. This is a demand rejected by group leadership. Lebanese cabinets support the principle of putting all weapons under state control, but avoid setting up timetables. Deputy Director Hezbollah Mahmoud Komati denounced the move as a “murder of humiliation” and did not pledge disarmament during the Israeli attacks.
The Cabinet’s decision highlighted public resistance to external pressure amid continued Israeli strikes, including the ongoing strike in eastern Lebanon on Thursday, which sparked protests in Beirut and killed six people.