New Delhi: As Israeli airstrikes continue on Gaza since Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “The defeat of the Zionist regime (Israel) in Gaza is a major defeat,” news agency AFP reported. It is the truth”.
Khamenei further said that Israel has so far failed to achieve its “goal” of destroying Hamas, despite massive bombings.
“Advancing and entering hospitals or people’s homes is not a victory, because victory means defeating the other side. This incompetence reflects the incompetence of the United States and Western countries,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by AFP.
According to AFP, Khamenei made the statement during his visit to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Center in Tehran.
Read | Yemen’s Houthi rebels capture cargo ship in Red Sea, IDF says ‘not Israeli ship’
Tehran’s supreme leader further said that “Israel killed thousands of children without any remorse because Zionists consider themselves a superior race,” AFP reported.
Khamenei also urged other Muslim countries that have formal relations with Israel to cut ties and freeze trade. “Some Islamic governments have not yet condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, but it is not acceptable,” AFP quoted Khamenei as saying.
Read | Israeli airstrike kills 80 on Gaza refugee camp as IDF operation expands
It is noteworthy that Iran, which provides military and financial support to Hamas, has described the October 7 attacks on Israel as a “success”. However, he has denied any involvement in it.
Meanwhile, Hamas said Israeli strikes, both airstrikes and ground offensives, have so far killed 12,300 people in Gaza, including 5,000 children.
Amid Israel’s ongoing military offensive, northern Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa, was evacuated except for 120 of the most vulnerable patients and five doctors.
According to reports, as Israeli attacks continued to devastate the area, basic medical resources were available for patients.
