The Palestinian presidency sharply rebuked remarks made by Iran regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on Monday. Khamenei had praised the October 7 attack on southern Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, which the Palestinian leadership perceived as an exploitation of their struggle.
During a ceremony in Tehran marking the 35th anniversary of Ruhollah Khomeini’s death, Khamenei commended Hamas’ unprecedented assault, calling it a significant blow to Israel and a disruption of plans by Israel and the United States to alter regional dynamics. He also stated that the attack had drawn global attention to the Palestinian cause.
In response, the Palestinian presidency emphasized that the Palestinian people are the primary victims of the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza. A statement released via the official WAFA news agency from the Ramallah-based presidency condemned Khamenei’s remarks as an attempt to sacrifice Palestinian lives and destroy their land, asserting that such comments would not lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The statement reiterated that the Palestinian people have been struggling for over a century for freedom, independence, and the preservation of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian sanctities. It stressed that Palestinians seek an end to the occupation, not policies that undermine their national goals.
In a related statement, Mahmoud Abbas’ adviser, Mahmoud al-Habbash, accused Iran’s regime of seeking influence in Palestinian territories and sacrificing Palestinian blood for its own interests.
Speaking to Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, al-Habbash criticized Iran regime’s involvement and added that Iran had supported all of Hamas’ actions since the onset of the war in Gaza. He also blamed Hamas for the dispersal of the Palestinian people, asserting that the Iranian regime has no right to assess the events of October 7.
The Iranian regime, a known supporter of Hamas, has been accused of endorsing Hamas’ cross-border assault on southern Israel on October 7, an attack that triggered a major Israeli military response. During this attack, Hamas militants killed nearly 1,200 people and took over 240 hostages. Despite these accusations, Iran’s regime has denied any involvement in coordinating the assault.
The conflict has resulted in severe casualties in Gaza, with more than 36,000 Palestinians reported dead by the enclave’s Health Ministry. The Iranian regime has long been a significant supporter of Hamas, providing financial aid, weapons, and training. The U.S. State Department estimates that Iran allocates $100 million annually to Palestinian groups, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has consistently criticized Iran regime’s meddling in Palestinian affairs. In April, the Fatah movement, led by Mahmoud Abbas and a major rival to Hamas, accused Iran’s regime of inciting chaos in the West Bank. A Fatah statement declared that the Palestinian cause and the blood of the Palestinian people would not be exploited for dubious plots unrelated to their struggle.
The ongoing conflict and external influences continue to complicate the Palestinian pursuit of an independent state and peace in the region.
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