In recent years, it has become a Western policy or, more appropriately, a political fashion to pressurize the Palestinians to give up their resistance and their rights.
With Iran’s new president, Ebrahim Raisi, at the helm, things may just begin to change.
Palestine holds a special place in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran has been one of the strongest supporters of Palestinian since the 1979 revolution. It is also one of the countries that has tremendously supported Hamas. In May, it helped Hamas during the 11-day armed clash with the Israeli military. The 11 days of fighting killed over 250 in Gaza.
Following the ceasefire, Raisi called for the liberation of Jerusalem. He also called out Israel for attempting to implement Donald Trump’s proposed “deal of the century” plan. Under his leadership, Iran is likely to extend more military and financial support to Hamas. It is expected that the country will renew its support for the Palestinian people and Palestinian resistance.
On his first full day in office, Raisi pledged Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s allegiance to the cause of Palestine. “Palestine has been and always will be the number one issue of the Muslim world. We’ve never had and will never have any doubt about this policy,” the official Iranian state Fars news site quoted Raisi as saying.
He also assured Ziyad al-Nakhalah (secretary-general of Palestinian Islamic Jihad) and Talal Naji (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader) that the Islamic Republic would always defend the rights of oppressed people. Raisi also thanked the families of Palestinian resistance fighters and their sacrifices and hailed the Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails.
Hailing the PIJ as an influential group in defending the rights of Palestinians, Raisi said “the initiative for settling the fate of Palestine is in the hands of the resistance groups and will continue to be implemented until ultimate victory over the Zionist regime.”
Raisi reiterated that Iran will continue to support Palestine as the main issue of the Muslim world. He reaffirmed his longstanding view of Israel as a cruel occupier of the Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem.
He described resistance as the sole way for victory against the Zionists, saying, “The Zionist regime has not honoured any of the contracts and treaties it has signed, and those seeking the normalization of ties with that regime will soon admit their mistake.”
His stance certainly irked the U.S. and Israel, which has vigorously fought to preserve its status as the only nuclear power in the Middle East.
The Western media was quick to call the leaders as belonging to the three terror groups and their attending of Raisi’s swearing-in ceremony on August 5 as proof that Iran was preparing to use the Palestinians to attack Israel. The Jerusalem Post noted: “Iran likes to use proxies and have others die for it in its regional wars. That is why Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, and Yemenites all are pushed by Iran to fight, while Iran’s regime strangles its own people at home and profits off all the instability, terrorism and suffering.”