Iran says it backs Palestinian leadership decisions on Gaza’s future

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday during a phone call with Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ political bureau, that Tehran supports every step, initiative and decision taken by the Palestinian leadership during negotiations on Gaza’s future.

He added: “The hearts of the Iranian people and its officials are with the Palestinian people. Tehran will continue to support the Palestinian people and stand by them.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and its negotiating delegation, said the group was still awaiting an official response from Nikolay Mladenov, Gaza’s representative on the Board of Peace, regarding the implementation of the second phase of the roadmap under the latest Cairo agreement reached with the mediators.

In a post on X, Naim said Hamas and the Palestinian factions had acted responsibly in responding to the proposals presented to them. He also welcomed the mediators’ statement, saying it placed responsibility for the escalation and the deliberate delay in implementing the agreement on Israel.

Meanwhile, sources in Hamas and other Palestinian factions said messages were exchanged on Tuesday evening between the negotiating delegation and Mladenov regarding the Board of Peace’s latest statement, which was issued after Mladenov met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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