Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has told a visiting Hamas delegation that the Palestinian resistance defeated Israel and the US in their war on Gaza, and made a “great achievement” by securing a ceasefire.
Ayatollah Khamenei received Hamas Shura Council chairman Muhammad Ismail Darwish, acting Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, and other members of the group’s political bureau in Tehran on Saturday.
“God Almighty granted you and the people of Gaza honor and victory, and made Gaza an example of the noble verse that says, ‘How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah’,” he told the visitors.
“You overcame the Zionist regime and, in fact, the US and by the grace of God, you did not let them achieve any of their goals,” the Leader added.
Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the suffering of the Gazan people for a year and half of the Israeli war, saying the ultimate result is “the victory of right over wrong”.
“The people of Gaza became an example for all those who have their hearts in resistance,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei also praised Hamas negotiators, saying their deal forcing Israel to halt its brutal war on Gaza and release thousands of Palestinian prisoners is a “great achievement”.
The first 42-day phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for 33 Israeli captives and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners to be released.
So far, the agreement has held, but US President Donald Trump’s proposal to clear Gaza of its inhabitants and take over the territory is creating hiccups amid widespread denunciation around the world.
Ayatollah Khamenei called on the Palestinian resistance to stay put, saying it is “necessary to plan for cultural works and continue the current path of PR works alongside military affairs and the reconstruction of Gaza”.
The Leader described faith as the main “asymmetric weapon” of the resistance front against the enemy. “It is because of this faith that the Islamic Republic and the resistance front do not feel weak against the enemies.”
Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the recent US threats against the Islamic Republic and the people of Iran, saying they “have no effect on the mentality of the nation and our officials, as well as the country’s activists and youth”.
