Iran says a temporary humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is “the first step towards stopping the war crimes of the child-killing Zionist regime against Palestinian citizens, women and children”.
“This development is the result of more than 45 days of indescribable endurance of the resistant people of Palestine and the historical struggle and standing of the resistance warriors and the first step of victory,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said Thursday.
A breakthrough four-day truce in the war will start on Friday morning and an exchange of captives and prisoners will follow hours later.
Kan'ani said Iran will continue diplomatic consultations with regional and international sides to support the oppressed people of Palestine and its joint efforts with friendly and aligned countries in order to take immediate measures to maintain the ceasefire and "stop the mass killing machine of the Zionist regime and provide urgent relief to the homeless people of Gaza".
Israel has killed more than 14,800 people, including over 6,150 children, in Gaza since October 7.
Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said Thursday Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails will be released on Friday, adding a list of names has been approved, without saying how many.
“The Palestinian nation proved that it will take the decision to determine its destiny and homeland into its own hands, both on the battlefield and in the political arena, and will show an appropriate and decisive answer to any ill-considered, aggressive and short-sighted plan and action of the usurping Zionist regime and its supporters,” Kan'ani said.