Iran Vows Support For Hamas' Attack On Israel Amid Rising Tensions

Iran's hardliner-dominated parliament, July 2020
Iran's hardliner-dominated parliament, July 2020

Iranian regime officials, parliament and state media have expressed their support for Hamas' large-scale attack on Israel, killing scores of civilians.

During their open session on Saturday, members of the Iranian Parliament showed their support for the militant incursion into Israel by chanting slogans, such as, "Palestine Will Win, Israel Will Be Destroyed."

Yahya Rahim Safavi, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and military advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, also voiced his support for the terror group’s attack. He pledged “solidarity with Palestinians until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem.”

According to semi-officials ISNA news agency, he extended congratulations to Hamas forces and asserted that Former IRGC Quds Force Commander "Qassem Soleimani is undoubtedly with the mujahideen." However, he did not elaborate on how Iran's support for Hamas would manifest itself in the ongoing military conflict with Israel.

Earlier in the week, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, criticized countries normalizing relations with Israel, characterizing it as a risky endeavor. He asserted that " The position of the Islamic Republic is that countries that make the gamble of normalization with Israel will lose. They are betting on a losing horse."

Media outlets associated with the Iranian regime have also embraced the news of Hamas's attack on Israel. Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, described Hamas's operation as a "significant blow to Israel" and touched upon the extensive number of Israeli casualties.

Likewise, IRNA, the official state news agency of the Islamic Republic, characterized Hamas's attack as "comprehensive," "complex," and "surprising." IRNA also noted that Hamas utilized drones during the attack to target Israeli positions.

Iranian-backed Palestinian Hamas launched a coordinated and large attack on Israel on Saturday, resulting in the loss of at least 40 Israeli lives and leaving over 500 people injured so far.