Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have vowed to avenge the killing of the head of Hamas.

Washington:

The United States and European allies called on Iran to “stand firm” on Monday, amid fears an imminent attack on Israel could spark an all-out Middle East war.

As tensions rise in the region, the US is flying a missile submarine and an aircraft carrier group in a show of support for its key ally.

Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have vowed to avenge the killing of the political leader of the Palestinian group Hamas in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

US President Joe Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom warned Tehran in a joint statement on Monday to step up international efforts to prevent an Iranian attack.

“We called on Iran to withdraw its ongoing threats of military attack against Israel and discussed the grave consequences for regional security in the event of such an attack,” he said after speaking on Monday. “

The White House warned that a “significant set of attacks” by Iran and its proxies was possible as soon as this week, saying Israel shared the same assessment.

As the frantic diplomacy continued, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer both urged Iranian President Massoud Pezhashkian to de-escalate.

But Pyzhashkian said Monday that his country “has the right to respond to aggressors.”

Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Hamas, was in Tehran last month for the swearing-in of the new Iranian president when Haniyeh was killed in an attack that Iran blamed on Israel.

Israel had killed Hezbollah commander Fawad Shukar in Beirut a day earlier, leaving the region on edge.

– ‘No more time to lose’ –
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said his country was “ready to defeat any threat in real time” but added that he was “not aware” of reports that Iran would launch another missile next year. An attack is expected in 24 hours.

Israeli Defense Minister Yves Gallant said the country had strengthened defenses and organized “offensive options” because “threats could come from Tehran and Beirut.”

Meanwhile, Washington and four European countries have stepped up their calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, citing the conflict sparked by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel as the main cause of tension in the Middle East.

He supported calls by Biden and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar for renewed talks between Israel and Hamas this Thursday, “and emphasized that there is no more time to lose.”

He also called for the “unimpeded” delivery of aid to devastated Gaza.

Pressure on Hamas to end fighting in the Gaza Strip and release its hostages came after the militant group’s armed wing said it had killed one Israeli captive and wounded two others in “incidents”.

The Izzuddin al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement that two of its fighters had opened fire on the hostages in “two separate incidents” while guarding them, and that a committee had been formed to investigate.

Hamas has urged mediators to implement the cease-fire plan proposed by Biden instead of holding further talks.

But Israel has accepted invitations from the US, Qatar and Egypt to send negotiators.

“The reason we are doing this is to finalize the details of the implementation of the framework agreement,” Israeli government spokesman David Manser told a news conference.

– ‘Stop this war’ –
Pressure for a cease-fire in Gaza increased after civil defense aid workers in the Hamas-controlled territory said an Israeli airstrike on Saturday killed 93 people at a school housing displaced Palestinians.

Israel said it targeted militants operating outside a school and mosque.

On Monday, witnesses told AFP that Israel had targeted Khan Yunis and Rafah from the air. The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, which is fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza, said its fighters were fighting Israeli troops in Khan Yunis.

In the Nusirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Sohail Abu Batahan said Israeli bombardment was “striking terror” among residents, calling on mediators and “the world… to intervene to stop this war.”

The Gaza War began with an October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel that killed 1,198 people, mostly civilians.

The militants also captured 251 people, 111 of whom are still hostages in Gaza, of which 39 soldiers have been killed.

Israel’s military response to Gaza has killed at least 39,897 people, according to a new figure from the territory’s health ministry, which did not provide a breakdown of civilian and militant casualties.

(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

(Translation of Tags) Israel Hamas War



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