TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said on Monday the country is not involved in the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) military operation against Israel, according to the official news agency IRNA.
The Iranian mission said in a statement, however, the country "unflinchingly stands in solidarity with the Palestinian nation."
Hamas' recent decisions and measures have "strong roots in the cardinal principle of people's right to self-determination, which is indicative of a completely legitimate response to seven decades of Israel's cruel occupation," said the statement.
"The Palestinians have the freedom to make choices they believe are in their interest and determine their course of action," the mission added.
It added that "the status quo in occupied Palestine is the consequence of the long-term negligence of the Palestinian people's legitimate right to determine their fate, Israel's constant aggressions against Palestine and their land, continuation of the desecration of Muslims' sacred places, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque."
While recognizing the Palestinians' inherent right to self-defense based on international law, Iran maintains that "the Palestinian issue will be resolved only through ending the occupation."
Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.
At least 687 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,700 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, according to the latest update issued by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday, while more than 900 have been killed in Israel in the Hamas attack, according to Israel's state-owned Kan TV. ■
