Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met today with the leaders of Palestinian jihad and resistance groups on the occasion of Unity Week and the birthday anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (s.w.a.).
In this meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the strong resistance of the people of Palestine and Gaza and stressed that Palestine will definitely be liberated through continuing resistance, unity of resistance groups, faith, and reliance on God. He further added that those who support the Zionist regime will only be disgraced and will leave a negative image of themselves in history.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that maintaining the spirit of resistance among the Palestinian people is the most important duty of resistance groups and will prepare the ground for future victories of the Palestinian nation. He also assured the Palestinian nation that their great movement will succeed.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the increasing power of the resistance groups in their battle against the camp of arrogance is an obvious and undeniable reality. He further stated that the power and considerable progress of resistance groups is the result of their faith, reliance on God, and blending fighting with spirituality.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that clarifying the realities and opposing the false propaganda of the west about the issue of Palestine is an important issue.
He further stated that the US and other countries which claim to support human rights were utterly disgraced during the 22-day war in Gaza. "The US and other supporters of the Zionist regime ignored the most severe and widespread violations of human rights in Gaza."
His Eminence said that European countries and organizations which claim to support freedom and human rights only verbally condemned these crimes - to avoid being further disgraced - after the people of the world staged demonstrations against these crimes.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the stance of the UN towards the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza was a disgrace for the UN and added: "According to the Goldstone report, the bloodthirsty heads of the Zionist regime should be tried and punished. But why are they not prosecuted and are supported even more than before?"
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that most of the Arab governments failed the test they were put to during the 22-day war on Gaza and added: "These governments claim that the issue of Palestine is an issue which is related to the Arab world. But when it came to helping Palestinians, they ignored this fact and left their Palestinian brothers alone in their battle against the Zionist enemy and its supporters. This is a fact which will go down in history."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the US President's slogan of change was aimed at repairing the tarnished image of the US in the world and said that this effort proved futile. "The US officials blatantly tell lies about the issue of Palestine and other issues. And the Iranian nation has grown accustomed to these lies during the past thirty years."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the issue of Palestine has provided a serious challenge for the west and the followers of liberal democracy and added: "The resistance of the Palestinian nation has completely challenged the claims by the west to support freedom and human rights. The issue of Palestine is now a criterion to differentiate between sincere and insincere supporters of democracy and freedom."
His Eminence said that the US will be completely defeated by the resistance of the Palestinian nation and added that the actions of the US government in support of the Zionist regime during the past 60 to 70 years will only tarnish the image of the US in history.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed the formation of a new and Islamic Middle East and said that supporting the Palestinian nation is an Islamic and human duty. He further stated that Islamic governments shoulder a heavier duty in this regard.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that supporting the Palestinian nation is an issue which is rooted in principles and added: "The issue of Palestine is not a political tactic or strategy for the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people. Rather, the issue is rooted in the hearts and faith of the people."
He further stated that it is due to this reason that the Iranian people enter the scene on Quds Day every year and express their genuine emotions in support of the innocent people of Palestine.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that engaging in negotiations with the Zionist regime has proved futile and added those who ignored resistance as the only way to liberate Palestine were forced to accept what was imposed on them by the enemies.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that ignoring resistance, knowingly or unknowingly, will deal a blow to the Palestinian nation and added that these realities should be constantly reminded to everyone.
Ayatollah Khamenei finally reiterated that Palestine will be liberated one day and that the people of the world and the Palestinian nation will definitely see that day.