Tehran (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Iranian state TV reported that acting Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
“You defeated the Zionist regime [Israel], which was in fact America’s defeat,”
Khamenei told the Palestinian delegation.
“You did not allow them to achieve any of their goals.”
The delegation, which also included Mohammad Darwish, chief of Hamas’ leadership council, and key Hamas official Nizar Awadallah, presented Khamenei with a piece of information on the current position in Gaza and the West Bank and “the victories and successes that were achieved.”
The delegation expressed gratitude for Iran’s continued backing, and the Palestinian leaders congratulated Khamenei on the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian revolution, Iranian TV said.
“We come to meet with you today with pride,”
The TV cited al-Hayya as telling Khamenei.
Khamenei stated U.S. threats against Iran
“have no effect on the mindset of our nation,”
The Iranian media conveyed.
Why is the Iran-Hamas alliance significant?
This meeting happened at a time when Israel and Hamas were in an extended period of tension, with recent prisoner exchanges where three Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas and used to secure the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners as part of a truce.
The Iranian-Hamas relationship is of importance because Iran has been pivotal in supporting Palestinian resistance movements against Israel.
The assassination of former Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has significantly heated up the entire region. According to reports on July 31, 2024, an assassination blamed both by Hamas and Iran on Israel took place.
Although Israel at first neither confirmed nor denied involvement, it later accepted responsibility for the assassination in December 2023. Iranian leaders vowed to retaliate against Israel for Haniyeh’s death and warned of “severe consequences.” This led to more security within Iran and a call for international condemnation of Israel’s actions.
