Iranian foreign minister: If Israel takes action, Iran'sresponse will be "immediate and at a maximum level"
From CNN's Jennifer Hauser and Tara John
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned Israel on Thursday against taking any military action against Iran.
"In case the Israeli regime embarks on adventurism again and takes action against the interests of Iran, the next response from us will be immediate and at a maximum level," Amir-Abdollahian toldCNN's Erin Burnett in an exclusive live interview.
The foreign minister said Iran sincerely hoped Israel would not repeat "the previous egregiouserror," referencing the apparent Israeli strike on Iran's embassy complex in Damascus, Syria.
"Our response will be decisive through the Swiss embassy in Tehran," he said. "We've announced to the White House, sent a message to the White House and Washington DC, the administration in which we've reiterated that if the Israeli regime commits the great error once again our response will be decisive, definitive and regretful for them," Amir-Abdollahian said from the Iranian Permanent Mission to United Nations — one of the only places he is allowed to be the US given the State Department restrictions.
The missiles and drones that Iran fired against Israel on Saturday were carried out in response to the suspected Israeli strikes and “stayedwithin a minimum of frameworks,” he said, adding that the intent was to take "equal action," and "to let it be known we do have the means to respond." But he warned that if Israel chooses to retaliate, “the next response from us will be immediate and at a maximum level.”
The post was updated with more of the minister's remarks to Erin Burnett.
Hamas condemns US veto of Palestinian membership bid at the UN
From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali
Hamas condemned the US for using its veto power against a draft resolution that would have granted Palestine full membership in the United Nations.
The draft — presented by Algeria, representing the Arab Group — received support from 12 countries but was blocked by the US veto.
In a statement released early Friday local time, Hamas criticized the US stance as opposing the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood, and supporting what it termed the "fascist occupation entity" of Israel.
The statement said the US is isolating itself from international consensus supporting Palestinian rights, and called on the international community to pressure the US to change its position and support Palestinian aspirations for an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The statement thanked Algeria, the Arab Group, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and non-aligned countries that backed the resolution.
UAE and Iranianforeign ministers discuss stability in the Middle East duringkey diplomatic call
From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the minister of foreign affairs of the United Arab Emirates, spoke on the phone Thursday with hisIranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian,UAE state news agency WAM reported.
The call focused on addressing the latest “dangerous developments in the region and their repercussions on the regional and international peace and security,"according toWAM.
During the discussion, Sheikh Al Nahyan urged for maximum “self-restraint and working to prevent the expansion of the circle of tension in the Middle East.”
He reiterated that diplomacy and dialogue remain the essential paths to resolving conflicts and securing the region's stability and safety, according to the UAE state news outlet.
Remember: The conversation comes as Israel mulls its response to unprecedented airstrikes by Iran last weekend, which were themselves a response to a suspected Israeli strike on Iran's embassy compound in Syria earlier this month.
World leaders are voicing growing concern that the strikes have heightened the risk of a wider war in the Middle East.
Palestinian presidency condemns US veto on UN membership bid as "unfair, immoral and unjustified"
From CNN’s Hamdi Alkhshali
The Palestinian presidency sharply criticized the United States on Thursday for using its veto power to block Palestine's bid for full membership in the United Nations.
In a statement, the presidency described the veto as "unfair, immoral, and unjustified, and defies the will of the international community, which strongly supports the State of Palestine obtaining full membership in the United Nations.”
The statement accused the US of promoting policies that support ongoing Israeli military actions in Palestinian territories and hinder the peace process, “which has continued to use its veto against the rights of our people.”
“This aggressive American veto reveals the contradictions of American policy, which claims, on the one hand, to support the two-state solution, while it prevents the international institution from implementing this solution through its repeated use of the veto in the Security Council against Palestine and its legitimate rights,” the statement added.
The statement said that lasting peace in the region hinges on the end of Israeli occupation and recognition of Palestinian rights, including self-determination and sovereignty over East Jerusalem.
Some background: In September 2011, the Palestinian Authorityfailed to win UNrecognition as an independent member state. A year later, the UN decided that the PA’s “non-member observer entity” status would be changed to“non-member observer state,”similar to the Vatican.
ThePalestinian Authority,which is dominated by the Fatah political party, held administrative control over Gaza until 2007, after Hamas won the 2006 legislative elections and expelled it from the enclave. Since then, Hamas ruled Gaza and the Palestinian Authority governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The US favors a reformed Palestinian Authority leading both the West Bank and Gaza as part of an eventual independent state. But Israel has rejected the prospect of the Palestinian Authority returning to Gaza after the ongoing war, and has dismissed the idea of establishing a Palestinian state in the territories.
US vetoes Palestinian application at the UN for statehood recognition
From CNN's Richard Roth and Benjamin Brown
The United States vetoed a UN Security Council application granting statehood to Palestinians on Thursday.
The vote was 12-1 — the one being the US veto — and two abstentions.
The US, Israel's chief ally, said it believes statehood should be dependent on negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The US has “been very clear, consistently, that premature actions in New York, even with the best intentions, will not achievestatehoodfor the Palestinian people," State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said earlier Thursday.
He also noted there was no unanimity as to whether the applicant met the criteria for membership as a state.
Ziad Abu Amr, special representative of the Palestinians, told the Security Council:
"How could granting and recognizing Palestine, the state of Palestine, how could granting the State of Palestine full membership at the United Nations, similar to other countries around the world, how could this damage the prospect of peace between Palestinians and Israelis?”
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz commended the US for vetoing what he called a “shameful proposal."
“The proposal to recognize a Palestinian state, more than6months after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamasterroristswas a reward for terrorism,” Katz wrote on X.
“Terrorism will not be rewarded. Israel will continue to fight until Hamas is destroyed and all 133 hostages in Gaza are released,” Katz added.
This post has been updated with the US veto and comments from representatives for Israel and the Palestinians.
Biden's national security adviserconvenes meeting with Israeli counterparts on Rafah
From CNN's Donald Judd
National Security Adviser JakeSullivanconvened a meeting of the US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group “to consult on a series of issues in the wake of Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack against Israel.”
The meeting kicked off as a small group “to discuss the Iran attack and the collective efforts to further enhance Israel’s defense through advanced capabilities as well as cooperation with a broad coalition of military partners,” the White House said in a readout, withSullivanlater briefing the Israeli delegation – led by Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi – on today’s sanctions package on Iran.
The meeting then expanded to a larger group to discuss operations in Rafah.
“The two sides agreed on the shared objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah,” the readout says. “U.S. participants expressed concerns with various courses of action in Rafah, and Israeli participants agreed to take these concerns into account and to have further follow up discussions between experts, overseen by the SCG. Participants will meet again soon.“
CIA director expresses "deep disappointment" in Hamas rejection of ceasefire deal
From CNN's Alex Marquardt
CIA Director Bill Burns discussed the difficulties of reaching a ceasefire deal on Thursday and talked about his recent disappointment that Hamas had turned down a proposal put forward in the recent Cairo talks.
"It’s a big rock to push up a steep hill right now," Burns said in aconversationat The Bush Center. Burns described the proposal that was put forward by the US, Egypt and Qatar as "pretty far-reaching."
"It was a deep disappointment to get a negative reaction from Hamas through the Qataris and the Egyptians to that proposal," Burns said. "Right now it’s that negative reaction that really is standing in the way of innocent civilians in Gaza getting humanitarian relief in Gaza that they so desperately need."
CNN has reported that the proposal included a potential release of some 900 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons for 40 Israeli hostages. Hamas has since told mediators they are only offering 20 women and elderly, sick or wounded male hostages for the first round of a ceasefire.
Burns said that he has met with the families of hostages and that "it breaks your heart because you can see in very human terms what’s at stake here as well."
Burns concluded, “so we’ll keep working hard at this."
Iran warns of decisive response to Israeli military actions at UN Security Council meeting
From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian delivered a stern warning against Israeli military actions targeting Iranian interests during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday.
Addressing the council during discussions on the Middle East situation, Amir-Abdollahian stated Iran's recent defensive measures were complete and urged the international community to prevent further Israeli military operations against Iran.
"Iran's legitimate defense and countermeasures have been concluded. Therefore, the Israeli regime must be compelled to stop any further military adventurism against our centers, assets and interests," Amir-Abdollahian said.
He further cautioned that any illegal use of force by Israel would provoke a decisive Iranian response, aimed at making Israel regret its actions. The Iranian foreign minister described Iran’s stance as a necessary safeguard against continued provocations, emphasizing the need for international diplomatic intervention to de-escalate tensions and ensure regional stability.
Amir-Abdollahian called on the international community — particularly the security council — to compel Israel to cease its military activities against Iran to prevent further escalation in the region.
Israeli military confirms Tuesday's strike on Al-Maghazi refugee camp that killed 8 children
From CNN’s Abeer Salman and Jeremy Diamond in Jerusalem
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed to CNN that it carried out a strike on Al-Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza on Tuesday — which killed 14 people, including eight children.
The IDF said it is unaware of the number of casualties.
The Israeli military’s response came 48 hours after CNN first reached out for comment, following a CNN report on the strike that showed its deadly aftermath.
"The IDF struck a terror target in Maghazi," the spokesperson said. "And we’re not aware of the BDA (battle damage assessment) that is claimed to have happened." The spokesperson declined to provide additional details about the strike or its target, but said the strike is under review.
CNN provided the Israeli military with coordinates of the strike’s location.
Watch the CNN report here:
