This handout picture provided by the Iranian Foreign Ministry shows Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) shaking hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, on November 1, 2023. (Photo by Iran’s Foreign Ministry)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has called on Muslim nations to take immediate and effective action to put an end to Israel’s war crimes in the Gaza Strip and its blockade on the small territory.

Amir-Abdollahian also called for sending humanitarian aid to the war-stricken coastal strip, during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which he also hailed Erdogan’s support for Gaza and recent massive pro-Palestine rallies held across Turkey.

The Iranian minister, who was on a visit to the Turkish capital Ankara, also called for an emergency meeting of heads of Muslim and Arab countries on the situation in Gaza.

Israel has been pounding Gaza since October 7, killing nearly 8,800 Palestinians, including more than 3,600 children.

In one of the latest attacks, the regime on Wednesday hit the Jabalia refugee camp north of the Gaza strip for a second time, killing and injuring dozens of people.

It came a day after at least 400 people were killed or injured in the first strike on the refugee camp.

Amir-Abdollahian warned the war against the defenseless Palestinians could any moment spread to other parts of the region, stressing that the responsibility for that would rest with the US government and the Israeli regime.

The Iranian minister said Palestinian resistance forces have informed Iran that they possess the military capabilities needed for a long battle with the regime.

Amir-Abdollahian pointed to US demand that countries show restraint over the situation in Gaza, saying the US is not in a place to call for calm as it directly participates in the planning of Israel’s brutal attacks on Palestinians.

The US, as a party to the war on Gaza, is in no position to urge other sides to show restraint, he said.

The Turkish president, for his part, said all should work to create mechanisms aimed at protecting the security of the Palestinian people.

He said Turkey’s current priority is to help stop attacks on Gaza , remove the blockade and send humanitarian aid to Palestinians trapped in the strip.

During his stay in Ankara, Amir-Abdollahian also met and addressed a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Turkey was meant to discuss the situation in Palestine, regional developments and bilateral relations.

He traveled to Qatar before visiting Turkey to discuss the Gaza war and ways to put pressure on Israel to end the bloodshed.