TEHRAN – On Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told an Eid al-Fitr meeting attended by Iranian officials and ambassadors of Muslim states in Tehran that rallies on International Quds Day on April 5 were “surprising”.

Quds Day rallies took place on the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan.

“These rallies that took place on Quds Day was a political, international and surprising move,” the Leader pointed out.

The Leader added, “In the real sense of the word it was a public uprising. There were more population than other years. This really entails thanks.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said that he “sincerely” thanks the dear nation of Iran for being pioneer in different scenes.

Quds Day rallies this year was of special significance as Israel has been committing unprecedented crimes in the Palestinian Gaza Strip for more than six months.

In addition to Iran, International Quds Day rallies are held across the world.

“Today the heart of nations is with the oppressed people of Gaza,” the Leader remarked.

He added it is highly important that the issue of Palestine is becoming the most significant issue in European countries and the United States and that “the heart of non-Muslims” is with the Gazans.

“Even the heart of non-Muslims is with the oppressed people of Palestine and Gaza that its signs are unprecedented rallies in Europe and even the United States against the crimes of the Zionists.”

The Leader said these things show “that a great development is taking place in the Islamic world.”

He went on to say that “the Gaza issue is now the most important issue in the Islamic world and all should have a feeling of responsibility” toward agonies of people in the coastal enclave.

“You are noticing that rallies and demonstrations are taking place in favor of Palestinians and the people of Gaza… these rallies are unprecedented.”

There were not such demonstrations in Africa, Asia, Europe and even the U.S. in which people take to the streets and chant slogans in favor the Palestinian people, the Leader explained.

Considering the stealing of the Palestinian lands over long decades, the Leader said, such demonstrations are “unprecedented”.

The Leader said all these things show that the Muslim world is entering a new stage. “So it is clear that a new thing is taking place. A new development is taking place in the Islamic world.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said it is a great development in the Islamic world that the issue of Palestine has turned into the first issue of nations in the world despite the Zionists’ control over the media who were trying to prevent the people around the world to hear the “voice and message” of the Palestinians.

The Leader added “despite this sense of responsibility by nations, unfortunately some governments don’t honor their duties” toward the Palestinians.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader said the “most unfortunate reality” is that now certain Muslim countries are helping the Zionist regime while it is committing the most heinous crimes against women and children in Gaza.

The Leader cautioned that help to the Zionist regime is a “treason” to these countries that would finally lead to their downfall.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated the Islamic Republic extremely expects Muslim states to cut political and economic ties with the Zionist regime.

“The least expectation is that Muslim states to temporarily cut their ties and don’t help them until the crimes of the Zionist regime come to a halt.”

If a referendum is held on such issue in Muslim countries all people will back it, the Leader noted.

United Nations officials have said Israel’s crimes in the Gaza Strip tantamount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. In Israel’s war on Gaza that started on October 7, after Hamas a surprise attack on southern occupied territories, Israel has been massacring about 33,500 Palestinians, mostly children and women. Israel has also been starving the Palestinians by blocking or limiting humanitarian aid to the strip that houses about 2.3 million population.