Palestinians’ anti-Israel operation ‘legitimate defense’ against decades of occupation: Iran’s UN mission

Iran’s mission to the United Nations says Operation Al-Quds Storm is a “legitimate defense”against decades of Israeli occupation, rejecting allegations that Tehran had a role in the large-scale military operation against the Tel Aviv regime.               

In a statement on Monday, the mission said Iran continues its unflinching support for Palestine, amid ongoing massive operation by Palestinian Hamas resistance movement against Israel.

It emphasized that Iran is not involved in Palestine’s Operation Al-Aqsa Storm because it has been “taken solely by Palestine itself.”

“The resolute measures taken by Palestine constitute a wholly legitimate defense against seven decades of oppressive occupation and heinous crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime,” the mission said.

It added that the Palestinian resistance acts independently in its decisions, which are “unwaveringly in line with the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people.”

The statement was issued after The Wall Street Journal claimed that “Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas’s Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday.”

Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which got underway by the Gaza Strip-based resistance factions on Saturday, is the biggest operation launched by Palestinian groups against the occupying entity in years.

Israeli media outlets say more than 800 Israeli settlers and troops have been killed as a result of the operation. Some 2,560 Israelis have also been injured.

In a phone conversation with Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, on Sunday, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi said the “steely resolve” of the Palestinians heralds the final victory over the Israeli regime.