Iran's foreign minister reiterated the country's intention to retaliate following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The statement was made during a conversation with the Italian Foreign Minister, emphasizing that Iran's response will be definitive, measured, and well-calculated. The minister clarified that Iran does not seek escalation but is prepared to defend itself.
The Italian Foreign Minister called for restraint and a constructive approach to prevent further military actions in the region. He highlighted the importance of moderation towards Hezbollah to avoid escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, where Italian soldiers are stationed, and towards the Houthis to prevent tensions in the Red Sea area.
Recent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah raised concerns about a potential all-out war, but both sides have shown restraint. In Cairo, high-level talks aimed at securing a cease-fire and a hostage deal in the Israel-Hamas conflict concluded without a final agreement. Lower-level discussions will continue to address remaining disagreements.
Israel announced the delivery of polio vaccines to Gaza after the first confirmed case in 25 years. Over 1 million doses have been sent to Gaza, where ongoing conflict has hindered humanitarian efforts. Aid groups plan to vaccinate over 600,000 children under 10 and have called for a temporary pause in the fighting to facilitate vaccination efforts.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF have stressed the urgency of the situation, citing the need for a seven-day pause to administer vaccines. The UN aims to provide 1.6 million doses to Gaza, where displaced Palestinians face dire living conditions with limited access to clean water and sanitation.
