WANA (Feb 18) – Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, met with Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and his accompanying delegation today and dismissed American and other proposals regarding Gaza and Palestine, asserting that these plans “will lead nowhere.”

 

Congratulating the Palestinian resistance on its recent victories in Gaza, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the steadfastness and unity of Palestinian resistance leaders and fighters.

 

He highlighted their ability to withstand Israeli aggression, navigate complex negotiations, and demonstrate patience and resilience, which, he said, has bolstered the position of the resistance in the region.

 

The Supreme Leader described the triumph of Gaza’s resistance against Israeli and American-backed forces as a significant achievement, setting “a new milestone in the struggle for resistance.”

 

Referring to earlier claims that the Palestinian resistance would be eradicated within a short time, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that “those who made such assertions a year and a half ago are now negotiating the return of their captives in small groups, while Palestinian prisoners are being released in large numbers.” He emphasized that the way resistance forces have managed the exchange of Israeli captives has showcased their strength to the world.

 

“The global public opinion is now in favor of Palestine,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, stressing that no plan for Gaza will succeed without the consent of the resistance and its people.

 

For his part, Ziyad al-Nakhalah congratulated Ayatollah Khamenei on the Palestinian resistance’s major victory in Gaza, attributing it to the steadfast support of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the guidance of the late Seyed Hassan Nasrallah.

 

Al-Nakhalah asserted that the Palestinian resistance has essentially been waging war against the U.S. and the West over the past year and a half. “Despite the unequal balance of power, the resistance has achieved great victories,” he said.

 

He also underscored the vital role of Palestinian and Lebanese resistance unity, both on the battlefield and in politics, in securing Gaza’s recent triumphs. Providing an update on the latest developments in Gaza, the West Bank, and ongoing negotiations, he reaffirmed that “we will never abandon the path of resistance and will continue as soldiers of the resistance.”