Palestinian group Hamas has called on Iran to avoid targeting neighbouring Muslim countries as tensions escalate following US and Israeli strikes, urging diplomacy while condemning what it described as American-Zionist aggression.
In a press statement issued Saturday, the armed group which rules over the Gaza Strip strongly condemned the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, describing them as a violation of international law and a serious threat to regional peace.
The statement additionally said the attacks represent an escalation that risks dragging the region into a wider confrontation, while stressing that the priority should be stopping the war and preventing further instability.
Hamas also highlighted diplomatic efforts underway to reduce tensions, noting that several countries have attempted to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
“The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, is following with deep concern the war unfolding in the region. The movement once again strongly condemns the American–Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which violates the rules of international law and international humanitarian law and threatens security and stability in the region and the world.
“The movement affirms that the interest of the Islamic nation and the region lies in stopping this war. It calls on all states and international organisations to work immediately to halt it. Hamas also expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by various countries to prevent the outbreak of war and to prioritise the language of dialogue and diplomacy.
“While the movement affirms the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to this aggression by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws, it calls on its brothers in Iran not to target neighbouring countries. It also calls on all countries in the region to cooperate to stop this aggression and preserve the bonds of brotherhood among them.”
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Escalating war
The comments by Hamas come as Iran is fighting a deadly war with the US and Israel after the two attacked Tehran on 2 March, killing the country’s Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran and Hamas have long worked as allies in the region with Iran supporting Hamas during its war with Israel which started on October 7, 2023.
The latest US/Israeli war on Iran is an extension of the war on Gaza and has dragged in another regional ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran’s retaliation has been vast, with multiple countries coming under attack from Iranian ballistic missiles and suicide drones.
Qatar, Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Israel have all been targeted by Iran. The Arab countries currently host US military bases, making them legitimate targets for Iran’s IRGC forces in the eyes of Tehran.
The Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf has also become a focus point of the conflict with vital shipping routes being cut off, leading to a serious spike in energy prices in the West.
In the days that followed Khamenei’s assassination, Iran’s Assembly of Experts appointed his son Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new and third leader.
US President Donald Trump warned that military operations could continue and threatened to destroy Iran’s missile defence systems and halt the country’s nuclear ambitions.
Israeli officials described their own strikes as a “pre-emptive” action against Iranian targets, while Israel declared a special and immediate state of emergency across the country.
The emergency measures included bans on educational activities, gatherings and most workplaces except essential sectors.
What began as those initial strikes has since evolved into a broader regional crisis, with fears that continued retaliation could draw additional countries into the conflict and deepen instability across the Middle East.
