Meeting with a high ranking delegation from the Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine (Hamas) this morning, Ayatollah Khamenei singled out the issue of Palestine as the first and foremost issue for the Muslim world, praising the extraordinary grit and resistance of the Palestinian people, and resistance groups including Hamas. His Eminence stressed: Victory is not achieved without resistance and struggle, and based on the irrefutable divine promise, we believe that the issue of Palestine will end in the benefit of the people of Palestine and the Muslim World.
In the beginning of this meeting Mr. Saleh al-Arouri, Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau submitted a letter from Mr. Ismail Haniyeh, Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, to the Leader of the Revolution.
Thanking the important and welcoming positions of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh in this letter, Ayatollah Khamenei held: Hamas stands at the core of the Palestinian movement, as Palestine stands at the core of the Muslim World's movement.
Regarding the defiance and resistance of the people of Gaza and the West Bank as an indication of victory and success, Ayatollah Khamenei asserted: God has promised assistance and victory to those who stand steadfast for his cause, yet the realization of this promise has requirements, of which the most important ones include Jihad, struggle, and tireless efforts in various dimensions including political, cultural, intellectual, economic and military aspects.
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic emphasized that when it comes to the Palestinian cause, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not observe any reservations or ceremonies in dealing with any country of the world, and added: "We have always clearly and plainly announced our viewpoints regarding Palestine, and even on the international arena, our friends with who we do not see eye to eye on the issue of Palestine, know that the Islamic Republic is absolutely serious regarding the Palestinian cause.
Ayatollah Khamenei added: One of the major causes of hostility to the Islamic Republic of Iran is the question of Palestine, but these hostilities and pressures will not make Iran lose its stance on the question of Palestine, because support for Palestine is a religious matter.
His Eminence emphasized: If the Islamic world had united to focus on the question of Palestine, it would have a better situation now. That some of the followers of the U.S., like Saudi Arabia, ignored the question of Palestine was a stupidity because if they had supported the Palestinians, they would have won concessions against the United States.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that according to the divine tradition, the victory of the Palestinian people and the return of this holy land to the Islamic world are not strange and unrealistic, and went on to say: 40 years ago, no one believed that in Iran—which was the center of U.S.’s influence and aspirations—a religious government would be launched and the Israeli embassy in Tehran would be turned into a Palestinian Embassy. However, this unbelievable matter happened, hence it is possible to make things which may seem strange come true.
Ayatollah Khamenei further maintained: To us, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah's remark that “God willing, I will perform prayers at Bayt al-Maqdis,” is an absolutely achievable aspiration.
His Eminence emphasized that one of the requirements for the realization of this aspiration is strong positions and resistance—just as Mr. Haniyeh pointed out in his letter—and added: If we all perform our duties, the divine promise will surely be fulfilled.
Pointing to the treasonous "Deal of the Century" plot, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution asserted: This dangerous conspiracy aims to destroy the Palestinian identity among the Palestinian public and youth, and it must be confronted precisely on this point, so that they are not allowed to destroy the Palestinian identity by use of money.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed up that confronting this conspiracy requires promotional, cultural and intellectual work, and held: "Another way of opposing this conspiracy is for the Palestinian people to feel advancement, and this has happened already, thank God." He added: "Not so many years ago, the Palestinians were fighting using stones. But today, instead of stones, they are equipped with precision missiles, and this is feeling advancement.
In this meeting, after presenting the Leader of the Islamic Revolution with regards and well wishes of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh and the people of Palestine, Mr. Saleh al-Arouri, Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau maintained: "As you pointed out, we believe that based on the divine promise, Qods, and Palestine will be freed from the tyranny of the Zionists, and all of the fighters of God, and the Muslim Ummah will perform prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque."
Referring to Imam Khomeini's strong positions in support of the question of Palestine, before the victory of the Islamic Revolution and after that, as well as the explicit positions taken by the Leader of the Revolution, the Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau said: We always appreciate the Islamic Republic’s permanent and unchanging support for the Palestinian people.
Referring to the U.S. and Zionists’ hostilities against the Islamic Republic and their imposition of sanctions and threats, Mr. Saleh al-Arouri pointed out: We, as the movement of resistance and the Hamas movement, declare our solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and insist that any hostile action against Iran is indeed a hostile action against Palestine and the Resistance movement, and we consider ourselves to be at the forefront of supporting Iran.
Referring to the defensive capabilities of the Palestinian Resistance movement, he added: The defense advances made by Hamas and other resistance groups are by no means comparable to past years, and today all the occupied territories and the main and sensitive Zionist centers are within the reach of the Palestinian Resistance’s missiles.
Referring to the "Deal of the Century", the Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau said it was the most dangerous conspiracy with the aim of eliminating the Palestinian identity, and reported on the latest developments, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
At the end of the visit, Hamas delegation offered as a gift a carved image of the Al-Aqsa mosque to the leader of the Islamic Revolution.
