Tehran - Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Thursday that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was possible, official news agency IRNA reported.

"Some countries have changed their approach and have now a better understanding of the issue which makes us approaching ceasefire in Gaza," Larijani said after returning to Tehran from am emergency meeting of the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union (IIPU) in Turkey.

"There is room for optimism," the speaker said.

Larijani added that the IIPU was in contact with neighbouring states for the purpose of reconstructing Gaza following the opening of the blockade.

Iran is seen as an important backer of militant anti-Israeli forces in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Israeli soldiers to stop the killing of Palestinians in Gaza and disobey their commanders' orders.

"We are informed that there are some among you who have differences with your commanders and are tired of being misused for killing innocent people. It is time to stop," Ahmadinejad said in a public message on Thursday.

Without naming them, Ahmadinejad also criticized some Arab states "for supporting and tolerating the genocide in Gaza."

Ahmadinejad earlier urged the leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia to "open the lock of silence" and clarify their stance on the Gaza crisis and to state clearly whether they were on the Palestinian side or not. (dpa)