Leader: US ‘brainless plans’ for Gaza to go in vain
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the US “brainless plans” for the Gaza Strip will go nowhere after American President Donald Trump proposed his plan to take over the blockaded territory and relocate Palestinians from the area.
Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Ziyad al-Nakhaleh, and his accompanying delegation in Tehran on Tuesday.
“These plans will not go anywhere, and those who a year and a half ago claimed to eliminate the resistance in a short time are now receiving their prisoners in small groups and releasing a large number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange.”
He was referring to the prisoners exchange deal between Hamas and Israel under a Gaza truce which took effect on January 19 after more than 15 months of fighting.
US President Donald Trump this month proposed a plan for a US takeover of the war-battered Gaza Strip and its Palestinian inhabitants to be relocated elsewhere, including to Egypt and Jordan.
Trump’s plan sparked an outcry from Arab governments including Egypt and Jordan as well as from world leaders, and the United Nations warned against “ethnic cleansing” in the Palestinian territory.
The Leader also congratulated the Palestinian resistance on its victory against Israel in Gaza, where the regime was forced to enter into a cease-fire agreement with Hamas after failing to dismantle the resistance group, a main objective of its genocidal war in the Palestinian territory.
He described as magnificent the victory of the Resistance and the people of Gaza against the “Zionist and American enemies,” saying that it has set “a new benchmark” in resistance’s battles against Israel.
He emphasized that the great work done by Palestinian resistance leaders and fighters in maintaining unity and cohesion, standing firm against enemies, and navigating the complex process of ceasefire talks, as well as the Gazan people’s resilience and patience has made the resistance proud in the region.
Ayatollah Khamenei commended the way resistance handled prisoner exchanges as a testament to its strength before global audiences.
“Currently, international public opinion is in favor of Palestine, and thus no plan can succeed without consent from Gaza’s resistance and people,” the Leader said.
In this meeting, Nakhaleh congratulated Ayatollah Khamenei on Gaza’s victory and attributed it to Iran’s consistent support and guidance from late Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
“The Palestinian resistance was effectively fighting America and the West over the past 18 months and despite the inequality of the balance of power, it could achieve major victories,” Nakhaleh said.
“We will never forget our path of resistance, and we will continue this path as soldiers of the resistance,” Nakhaleh said.