Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian stated on Tuesday that Israel could only secure the release of captives held in Gaza with a political resolution to the conflict, and that neither the United States nor Israel will ever be able to completely eradicate Hamas.

During an address to the UN in Geneva, Amirabdollahian stated that “Israel and the United States will never be able to eliminate Hamas.” He characterized the Islamist organization as a freedom movement.

He added that Israel, which has vowed to wipe out Tehran-backed Hamas, could only achieve the return of hostages taken by Hamas during a deadly rampage on Oct. 7 by a political solution.

Amirabdollahian was speaking at a meeting alongside counterparts from other Middle Eastern countries.

“All the ministers agree that the strikes by the criminal Israeli regime and the genocide it is committing has to stop immediately,” Amirabdollahian said following the meeting.

“The Rafah border crossing has to be open, humanitarian aid has to reach every part of Gaza and the forced displacement of the people of Gaza must stop,” he added, referring to the crossing into Egypt used to bring humanitarian aid into the enclave.