TEHRAN- Describing the current truce in the Gaza-Israel war as a “political and military” triumph for the resistance front, the chief of Hamas’ political bureau has expressed gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for its unwavering support of the Palestinian people and their fight against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Ismail Haniyeh made the remarks during a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Thursday in the capital of Qatar, Doha. 

The meeting came ahead of a historic four-day truce that will see the exchange of prisoners and the delivery of relief aid to the Gaza Strip.

Haniyeh expressed appreciation for the “firm support of the Iranian leadership, the president, the government and the people of Iran, as well as the active diplomatic support of the Iranian minister of foreign affairs for the Palestinian issue and its people, particularly during the ongoing Israeli war against Gaza.”

The head of Hamas praised as “honorable” the solidarity shown to their Gazan brethren by the resistance forces in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, pointing out that this solidarity sends a clear message to both the U.S. and the Zionist regime.

Haniyeh asserted that the U.S. was the “main fulcrum” of the Israeli attack on Gaza, citing a number of aspects of the war crimes committed by the Israeli regime on the inhabitants of Gaza, its hospitals, and its urban infrastructure. 

“Despite the initial opposition to the ceasefire, the United States, understanding the realities of the battlefield, was finally forced to surrender to the will of the Palestinian people and the will of the world's nations and the positive vote of 120 countries to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly for a ceasefire with Hamas, which shows the U.S. dominance over the international order has diminished,” he said. 

“This is a political victory that was achieved based on the victory of the resistance in the field and the enemy failed in achieving its goals except for the killing of women and children and citizens and destroying their houses,” stated the head of Hamas’ political bureau in response to Turkey’s special efforts and support in bringing about the temporary ceasefire.

For his part, Amir Abdollahian congratulated the Palestinian people and Gaza residents on their success, tenacity, and resistance against Israeli attacks on the enclave.

“The consequences of Operation al-Aqsa Storm shook the world,” the top Iranian diplomat said. “Although the human losses of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip were high, bitter and unfortunate, the dimensions of victory and achievement of the Palestinian nation were much bigger and tipped the strategic balance in different dimensions in favor of Palestine and the detriment of the usurping Zionist regime.”

He went on to emphasize, “Despite more than a month and a half of aggression and brutal war, killing and injuring tens of thousands of Palestinian citizens, the U.S. and the Israeli regime were forced to negotiate indirectly with Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of their prisoners.”

Amir Abdollahian praised the people of Gaza and its resistance groups for their honorable and courageous resistance to Israel’s 47-day brutal aggression, and emphasized the Islamic Republic’s absolute determination to continue supporting the Palestinian people and resistance in political and international arenas.

“Resistance will win the Israeli war against Gaza”

In a meeting with Amir Abdollahian in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Thursday, during which they discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly in Palestine and Lebanon, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, expressed confidence that resistance will triumph and the Israeli regime will face a crushing defeat.

Nasrallah praised the fight of the people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and reaffirmed the resistance’s complete preparedness on all fronts.

For his part, Amir Abdollahian described Iran’s diplomatic initiatives and discussions throughout the last several weeks about potential means of assisting the Palestinian people and putting an end to the Israeli regime’s war crimes against civilians in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian people’s resilience and Israel’s desperation in the face of that resistance led to the agreement between Israel and Hamas on the humanitarian truce in Gaza and the hostage exchange arrangement, according to the Iranian foreign minister.

Mojtaba Amani, Iran’s ambassador to Beirut, reported that Nasrallah and Amir Abdollahian also discussed potential future developments in the region, efforts to halt Israel’s crimes against Gaza, potential war scenarios, and the international community’s responsibility for the “historic and determining development.”

In the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on Wednesday, Amir Abdollahian met with Secretary General of the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad movement Ziyad al-Nakhala, Deputy Chief of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip Khalil al-Hayya, and other officials from the groups.

The parties talked on the most recent field developments in the Gaza Strip, ways to prolong the current ceasefire, and the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the oppressed Palestinian people.

Following intensive mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas declared early on Wednesday morning that it had made a deal with Israel for a four-day humanitarian truce.

Separate discussions were also held by the Iranian foreign minister with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.