Iran ready to send humanitarian aid to Gaza: FM Salehi

In a telephone conversation with Islamic Jihad of Palestine Secretary General Ramadan Abdullah on Friday, Salehi offered the condolences of the government of Iran to the families of the Palestinians martyred in the recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said he is ready to visit Gaza to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and the Palestinian resistance. He also wished success and victory for the people of Palestine and praised the efforts of the Resistance.

Abdullah, for his part, thanked the Islamic Republic for its supports saying we have always enjoyed the spiritual, political and humanitarian support of Iran.

At least 25 Palestinians, including a senior Hamas commander, have been killed and over 250 others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Wednesday when the Israeli army launched the so-called "Operation Pillar of Defense” against the Palestinian territory.

The Israeli Army says it has carried out 466 air strikes against Gaza in the past three days. Palestinian fighters have also fired hundreds of rockets into Israel in response to the deadly attacks.

Residents of the besieged Gaza Strip say they are getting text messages warning of military escalation as reports suggest that Israeli military forces are preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza.

Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that the military was preparing for a “significant widening” of its attacks against the blockaded coastal strip, the Tel Aviv regime has called up 30,000 army reservists, preparing 16,000 for a possible ground invasion of Gaza.

On Thursday, dozens of military trucks were seen transporting tanks and armored personnel carriers toward Gaza. Many buses carrying soldiers also headed toward the border area.

Israeli TV stations said a Gaza operation was expected on Friday.
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