 "Israel accepted a US-proposed truce and began withdrawing troops from parts of Gaza on October 10, initiating a 72-hour window for the release of Hamas-held hostages. (Photo: AFP)")
Iran on Saturday expressed serious doubts about Israel’s willingness to honour the Gaza ceasefire that began a day earlier, following two years of conflict. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran does not trust its arch-rival Israel to abide by the truce terms.
Araghchi remarked, “We warn about the tricks and betrayals of the Zionist regime (Israel) regarding previous agreements… There is absolutely no trust in the Zionist regime.” Despite this scepticism, he affirmed Iran’s support for the ongoing ceasefire, stating that any plan aimed at halting what he described as Israel’s crimes would have Iran’s backing.
Iran confirms Russian mediation message
Earlier, Iran’s foreign ministry reiterated that the Islamic republic has “always supported any action and initiative that includes stopping the genocidal war, withdrawal of the occupying forces, bringing in humanitarian aid, releasing Palestinian prisoners and realising the fundamental rights of the Palestinians.”
Referring to the June conflict in which Iran and Israel fought a 12-day war followed by Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, Araghchi disclosed that Russia had relayed a message from Israel. According to him, “Apparently three or four days ago there was a telephone call between (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” during which Netanyahu assured that he had no intention of reigniting war with Iran. The message, Araghchi added, was passed to Tehran’s ambassador in Russia.
Gaza hostages will be ‘coming back’ Monday
US President Donald Trump said he believes all the hostages held in Gaza, including the bodies of those deceased, will be “coming back” Monday after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire.
“So much is happening to get the hostages freed, and we think they’ll all be coming back on Monday, so it looks like that’s the thing, and that’ll include the bodies of the dead,” Trump said in a phone interview on Fox News.
The Republican president spoke late Wednesday, hours after he announced the 20-point peace plan aimed at ending two years of a brutal war that left Gaza in ruins and unleashed a humanitarian disaster.
Under the plan, Palestinian militant group Hamas would release all hostages while Israel would pull its troops back to an agreed-upon line, Trump said after talks in Egypt resulted in an agreement.