Martyr Imam Khamenei’s selected statements regarding the Palestinian cause

Various events…should not diminish the Palestinian issue in our minds. The fundamental essence of Resistance, is resistance against the Zionist regime's evil actions. That is what Resistance is. The Resistance is alive and must be kept alive. It must become stronger every day. We support the Resistance. We support the Resistance in Gaza, the Resistance in the West Bank, the Resistance in Lebanon, the Resistance in Yemen, and wherever they stand firmly and resist in confronting the malicious actions of the Zionist regime. (January 8, 2025) The Gazan people and fighters are standing like a rock, like a mountain. This is something important. Even though water, food, medicine, and fuel are not reaching these people — they have no water! — they are still standing strong and refusing to surrender. This is very important. This unwillingness to surrender will make them victorious, and signs of victory can be seen today. “Indeed, God is with those who are patient” [Quran 2:153]. Despite all its equipment and facilities, the Zionist regime remains incapable against the Palestinian fighters whose equipment it can be said cannot really be compared with that of the occupying regime. You must have heard that they have withdrawn the important, active parts of their army from the field (referring to the withdrawal of the Zionist’s Golani Brigade from the Gaza Strip), because they saw that they could not achieve anything and were only suffering losses. These are important. These are unprecedented phenomena. (December 23, 2023) Today, one of the most important issues of the Muslim world is Palestine, which is at the top of Muslims’ political issues, regardless of their school of thought, race, and language. The greatest injustice in recent history has happened in Palestine. In this painful affair, all that a nation had—their land, homes, farms, belongings, dignity, and identity—was confiscated. With God’s assistance, this nation has not surrendered to defeat and has not given up, and today, they are on the battlefields more enthusiastic, and braver than yesterday. But the ultimate outcome requires assistance from all Muslims. The stratagem of the “Deal of the Century” prepared by the oppressive U.S., and its treasonous cohorts, is a crime against the society of humankind, and not just the Palestinian nation. We are inviting everyone to active participation in overcoming this stratagem by the enemy, and with the power and help of God, we consider this and every other ruse by the Arrogant Front doomed to failure against the efforts, and faith of the Resistance Front. (August 6, 2019) The Zionist regime suffered a knockout blow in the Al‑Aqsa Flood operation. Hamas — as a Resistance group, not as a state, not as a country with vast resources, but as a group, a Resistance group — was able to deliver a knockout blow to the usurping Zionist regime, despite all its resources. In the events of October 7 and onward, the usurping Zionist regime has suffered an irreparable defeat, both in terms of military and intelligence. Everyone has called this “a defeat,” but I emphasize that it’s “irreparable.” I say that this devastating earthquake [Al-Aqsa Storm Operation] has managed to destroy some of the main structures of the usurping regime’s rule, which cannot be rebuilt so easily. It is very unlikely that the usurping Zionist regime will be able to restore those structures even with all the commotion that they are making and with all the support that it currently receives from the West. I would like to say that after Saturday, October 7, the Zionist regime will no longer be the regime it used to be, and they cannot easily compensate for the blow that has struck them. (October 10, 2023) Do we see heads and officials of Islamic countries practicing the teachings of the Quran and Quranic knowledge about Gaza? The Quran tells us, “Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than believers” [3:28]. Is this verse being practiced with regard to Gaza? Why don’t the heads of Islamic countries publicly announce their opposition, that they’re cutting off relations, and that they’re stopping their aid and support for the murdering, evil, Zionist unbelievers? The Quran says, “Do not take My enemy and your enemy for friends” [60:1]. Is this being practiced in the world today? The Quran says, “Harsh against the unbelievers, but merciful to one another” [48:29]. Is this harshness in action being shown against the evil Zionist regime? These are the great sufferings of the Islamic world today. Almighty God reprimands people. He reprimands the people of the Muslim nations for not bringing pressure on their own governments and for not acting [in accordance with the Quran]. “He only forbids you from being friends with those who have fought against you about the religion, expelled you from your homes, or supported others in expelling you” [Quran 60:9]. (February 22, 2024) Islamic countries helping the Zionist regime is an act of betrayal. They are betraying the Islamic Ummah, and they are betraying themselves as well. This is because by doing this, they are strengthening the declining Zionist organizations. And their [the Zionist’s] strengthening will be to the detriment of those countries. When the Zionists enter a country, they do not work for the benefit of that country. Once the Zionists gain a foothold in a country, like a mosquito they suck the blood of that country for their own benefit. Those helping the Zionist regime are helping to bring their own destruction, let alone the Islamic Ummah. (April 10, 2024) It is definitely haram [religiously prohibited] and truly a crime for anyone to help the enemies of the Palestinians.  Unfortunately, there are powers and governments in the Muslim world that are helping the enemies of the oppressed people. God willing, one day they will regret this and be punished for this treachery. They will also see that what they did was ineffective. (March 12, 2024) The entire world of Islam has responsibilities and religious obligations with respect to the Palestinian cause. Political commonsense and experience in ruling and governing confirm and put emphasis on this religious edict. Muslim governments should earnestly enter the field to support the Palestinian nation in both military and financial areas–which is needed more than the past–and to help in the rebuilding infrastructures and the ruins in Gaza. (May 21, 2021) In the issue of Gaza and Palestine, the Western governments have exposed their evil essence to the entire world. They have shown the true nature of their civilization. They kill children in the arms of their mothers. They kill patients in hospitals. They are unable to overpower the Resistance and the men of the Resistance [forces], so they resort to attacking families, children, civilians, and elderly men instead. (April 10, 2024) As for some of the foolish American plans or other schemes regarding Gaza and Palestine, these plans will lead nowhere. Those who, a year and a half ago, claimed they would destroy the Resistance in a short time, are now receiving their captives in small groups from Resistance fighters, and in exchange, releasing a large number of Palestinian captives. (February19, 2025) What is the cure [for the Palestinian issue]? The cure is steadfastness and bold resistance. The Palestinian nation, Palestinian elements and Palestinian organizations should put the Zionist enemy and the US in a tight corner with their self-sacrificing jihad. That is the only way and the entire world of Islam should help all of them. All Muslim nations should support the Palestinians. This is the cure. Of course, I believe that Palestinian armed organizations will stand firm and they will continue to resist. Resistance is the only way. (February 5, 2020) The solution [to the issue of Palestine] calls for holding a referendum on the future of Palestine among all the Palestinians who belong to this land, and for the establishment of a government based on the results of the referendum. The established government can then decide about the non-Palestinian immigrants currently living in Palestine. Today, human societies have attained such an intellectual level that they understand the meaning of global dictatorship, and they feel its pernicious burden on their shoulders. The great Iranian nation and many other Middle Eastern and Muslim nations are among those that have gained such awareness and understanding. The present U.S. maneuver is already doomed to failure. The United States aims to homogenize and appropriate the Middle East. In other words, US officials want to present the Middle East to the usurpers of Palestine. This is not possible. The farther they proceed, the more they will sink in a quagmire. (February 7, 2005) The problem in West Asia will not be solved until Palestine is returned to its owners. Even if they try for another 20 or 30 years to keep the [Zionist] regime in power — which by the will of God, they cannot do — that won’t solve anything. The problem will only be solved when Palestine is returned to its rightful owners — that is, the Palestinian people. Palestine belongs to the Palestinians, among whom are Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Palestine belongs to them and must be returned to them. They have the right to form their own government and system, which can then decide how to deal with the Zionists. Whether they will expel the Zionists or allow them to stay should be their decision to make. This is the solution we proposed several years ago. It has been officially registered in the United Nations, and we still emphasize this solution. The issue in West Asia will not be solved until this happens. (May 1, 2024) Today the whole world is seeing the behavior of the Zionist regime. It has massacred over 30,000 people in the past six months, at least half of them women and children. This is not a small matter. These merciless actions and the savagery carried out by these rabid dogs, their attacks on Palestinian children, patients, the elderly, and women are not a small matter. Well, this is one of the things that has proven the correctness of the Islamic Republic’s stance to the world. The rightfulness of the stance that has always been adopted by the Islamic Republic of Iran has been proven. In what way? [Some people ask,] “Why has the Islamic Republic been chanting ‘Down with the Zionist regime’ for all these decades?” This rightful stance has been proven to be correct. It has been shown to the entire world that the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation were right, [because the Zionist regime] has revealed its evil, malicious nature in this important test. The Islamic Republic has been proven to be correct [in its stance with regard to the Zionist regime]. (May 1, 2024) The usurper [Zionist] regime is coming to an end. Today, the Palestinian movement is more alive than it has ever been during these 70 or 80 years. Today, the Palestinian youth and the Palestinian movement, the anti-occupation, anti-oppression, anti-Zionism movement, is more energetic, more alive, and more prepared than ever, and you can see this. And God willing, this movement will achieve its goals. The honorable Imam [Khomeini], may God be pleased with him, described, the usurper [Zionist] regime as a cancer. This cancer will definitely be eradicated, God willing, at the hands of the Palestinian people and the resistance forces throughout the region. (October 3, 2023) Palestine has no way other than resistance. The people of Palestine should say and want this and Islamic governments should echo it. Of course, many Arab governments dismally failed their test on the issue of Gaza and other issues before that. They failed dismally. Whenever there was a talk about the issue of Palestine, they said, "The issue of Palestine is the issue of Arabs". But when it was time for action, the issue of Palestine was completely removed from their equations. Instead of helping Palestine and the Palestinians, instead of helping their Arab brothers and instead of being committed to their Arabic principles - even if they do not believe in Islam - all of them left the arena. They failed dismally in this test and these things will be recorded in history. (February 27, 2010) The future world belongs to Palestine. It does not belong to the usurping Zionist regime. The future belongs to them [the Palestinians]. What they [the Zionists] are doing — the oppression, the crimes, and the tragedies they are creating — are all in vain. They will not be able to do anything, God willing, by the will of Almighty God. I hope, God willing, that the Almighty God will bless the Islamic world and the Islamic nation with all that is good in this world, and may God subdue, vanquish, and humiliate the enemies of the Islamic nation. (October 25, 2023)