Iranian FM meets with Hamas leader ahead of visit to Turkey

Iran's foreign minister ahead of a visit to Turkey met on Tuesday with the political bureau chief of Palestinian Hamas group to discuss the recent situation in Gaza strip.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian's visit is due to take place tomorrow. The minister will meet with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

In today's meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Amir-Abdollahian said that the region is at the stage of making a very important decision, Iranian media reported.

He added: "Palestinian resistance does not necessarily remain waiting for political decisions, so if the war crimes of the Israeli regime continue and the scope of conflict and war expands, no side will be far away from the scope of its effects and consequences."

Haniyeh said Hamas "follows the valuable efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its President, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the regional and international level for supporting the Palestinian nation."

The death toll in Gaza due to Israel's recent attacks is over 8,500, with 3,542 children and 2,187 women among victims, according to reports by Gaza's health ministry.

Israel launched its wave of attacks after Hamas's 7 October incursions into Israeli territories which left at least 1,400 soldiers and civilians dead.