Iran’s Supreme Leader Criticizes Israeli Assault on Gaza as Genocide
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, describing it as a genocide of Palestinians. In a speech before a group of students in Tehran, Khamenei urged for an immediate cessation of the bombardment, emphasizing that the world is witnessing the Zionist regime’s crimes against Palestinians.
The Israeli offensive against Gaza was triggered by Hamas fighters who entered Israel from the enclave on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,300 people, the majority of whom were civilians. Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas, a Tehran-backed militant group that controls Gaza.
However, the retaliatory strikes by Israel have caused significant casualties among Palestinians, with over 2,800 fatalities, including a quarter of them children. Additionally, the attacks have displaced nearly half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million and imposed a total blockade on the area, preventing the arrival of essential supplies like food, fuel, and medicine.
Khamenei emphasized the importance of Muslim unity, warning that the crimes committed by Israel must be addressed to protect Muslims and the resistance forces. He called for Israeli officials to be held accountable for their actions against the Palestinians in Gaza, suggesting that they should face trial for their atrocities.
Support for the Palestinian cause has been a foundational principle of the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 1979 revolution, which aimed to position Iran as a leader within the Muslim world. Despite Tehran’s refusal to recognize Israel, the Israeli government has long accused Iran of providing arms to Hamas and fueling violence. Iran maintains that it provides moral and financial support to the group.
Echoing Khamenei’s sentiments, Ali Fadavi, the deputy commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, warned of further attacks by militant groups aligned with Tehran if Israel does not cease its atrocities in Gaza. Fadavi proclaimed that the resistance front will continue to confront the cancerous tumor of the Zionist regime until its eradication.
While President Ebrahim Raisi has affirmed that supporting Palestinians remains Iran’s top foreign policy priority, he also acknowledged the independent decision-making of militant groups involved in the conflict. This statement indicates that while Iran provides support, it does not solely dictate the actions of these factions.
The ongoing crisis in Gaza has ignited international concern and calls for an end to the violence. As tension rises between Iran and Israel, the repercussions of this conflict are likely to reverberate regionally and globally, impacting the delicate balance in the Middle East. The immediate priority remains a cessation of hostilities to prevent further civilian casualties and address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
