ISTANBUL

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Monday that Palestinian resistance groups make their own decisions but Tehran backs them. 

Raisi made the remarks during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed developments in Palestine and the Caucasus region, the state news agency IRNA reported.

Raisi said Iran backs the Palestinian groups’ measures in confronting "the Israeli aggression in the context of their legitimate defense of the Palestinian territories."

He also described the Russian position towards developments in Palestine as "positive" with its condemnation of "the Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza."

Ten days into the conflict with the Palestinian group Hamas, an Israeli bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over 1 million people – almost half the total population of Gaza – having been displaced, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel and medical supplies are running out as civilians flee to its southern region following an Israeli warning to evacuate its northern areas.

The fighting began when Hamas on Oct. 7 initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

At least 2,808 Palestinians, including 750 children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar