Iran on Sunday called upon Syria to cooperate in supporting Palestinian unity, reconstructing the war-torn Gaza Strip and in punishing Israel. "Both our countries should be active in supporting the unity of Palestinian groups, rebuilding Gaza and in prosecuting the Zionist leaders as war criminals," Iran's vice president, Parviz Davoudi, told reporters. Davoudi, in a press conference with visiting Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri, urged Syria to be "more alert about political tricks of enemies." Iran -- a close ally to Syria -- is a staunch supporter of the Islamist Hamas movement which controls Gaza and does not recognise its archfoe Israel. War between Hamas and Israel in December and January killed more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis while causing extensive damage in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave.