Gaza: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call Thursday with Khalil al-Hayya, head of the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, to discuss the latest developments in Palestine and the broader region.

According to Anadolu Agency, Araghchi detailed Iran's recent measures aimed at halting the war in the region, as reported by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, citing an Iranian Foreign Ministry statement. He emphasized Iran's ongoing support for the "legitimate resistance" of regional peoples, especially in Palestine and Lebanon, against what he referred to as the "Zionist entity."

Khalil al-Hayya commended Iran's negotiating delegation for advocating for a simultaneous cessation of hostilities across all regional fronts. He expressed gratitude for Iran's unwavering support of the Palestinian cause and provided an update on the dire situation in occupied Palestine, particularly the Gaza Strip, which continues to face Israeli aggression and occupation, complicating ceasefire efforts.

The conflict's toll on Gaza has been severe, with a two-year genocidal war initiated by Israel in October 2023 resulting in the deaths of nearly 73,000 Palestinians and injuries to over 173,000, predominantly women and children, according to Palestinian reports. Despite a ceasefire that began last October, the Israeli military has continued its operations, killing 932 Palestinians and injuring 2,859 in frequent attacks, as per the Gaza Media Office.

In a related development, Lebanon and Israel have agreed to renew their fragile ceasefire and establish 'pilot zones' under Lebanese army control, excluding all non-state actors. This agreement was reached following a fourth round of US-mediated talks in Washington, which came after weeks of intense Israeli strikes on Lebanon that claimed nearly 3,500 lives since March 2, even after a ceasefire was put in place on April 17 and subsequently extended to early July.