Statements at the Sixth International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Intifada

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and blessings and greetings be upon the Master of the beings, Muhammad the Chosen, his pure family, and his selected companions. God, the Wise, has said in the clear Book: "And do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be the uppermost if you are believers" (1) and He, the Exalted, has said: "So do not weaken and invite to peace while you are the uppermost, and God is with you, and He will not deprive you of your deeds" (2).

At the outset, I would like to welcome all of you dear guests, esteemed heads of councils, leaders of various Palestinian groups, thinkers, sages, and prominent figures of the Islamic world and other freedom-loving personalities, and to honor your presence in this valuable gathering.

The painful story of Palestine and the heart-wrenching sorrow of the oppression of this patient, resilient, and steadfast nation truly distresses every freedom-seeker, truth-seeker, and justice-seeker, and places a heavy burden of pain and suffering upon the heart. The history of Palestine, its unjust occupation, the displacement of millions of people, and the courageous resistance of this heroic nation is full of ups and downs. A thoughtful exploration of history shows that at no point in history has any nation faced such suffering and sorrow and such an unjust act as the complete occupation of a country in a trans-regional conspiracy, where a nation is driven from its home and hearth, and in their place, a group from all over the world is sent there; a true existence is ignored, and a fabricated existence takes its place. However, this is also one of the dirty pages of history that, like other tainted pages, will be closed with the permission of God the Almighty and His assistance; for indeed: "Falsehood is bound to perish" (3). And He said: "Indeed, the earth will be inherited by My righteous servants" (4).

Your conference is being held in one of the most difficult global and regional conditions. Our region, which has always supported the Palestinian nation in its struggles against a global conspiracy, is currently undergoing unrest and multiple crises. The existing crises in several Islamic countries in the region have caused support for the Palestinian issue and the sacred cause of the liberation of Al-Quds to fade. Paying attention to the outcome of these crises informs us of which powers benefit from them. Those who established the Zionist regime in this region to impose a long-term conflict and prevent stability, establishment, and progress in the region are now behind the existing seditions. These seditions have caused the capabilities of the nations in the region to be wasted in futile and pointless conflicts against each other, and with everyone becoming ineffective, the opportunity for the usurping Zionist regime to gain more power has been provided. Meanwhile, we witness the efforts of the well-wishers, wise men, and sages of the Islamic nation who are sincerely seeking to resolve these disputes; however, unfortunately, the complex conspiracies of the enemy have managed to impose internal wars on nations by taking advantage of the negligence of some governments, pitting them against each other, and diminishing the efforts of these well-wishers of the Islamic nation. What is important in this context is the weakening of the position of the Palestinian issue and the efforts to remove it from priority. Despite the differences that Islamic countries have with each other, some of which are natural, some are the enemy's conspiracy, and some arise from negligence, the title of Palestine can and must be the axis of unity for all of them. One of the achievements of this valuable gathering is to raise the primary priority of the Islamic world and the freedom-seekers of the world, namely the issue of Palestine, and to create a space of solidarity to achieve the noble goal of supporting the Palestinian people and their rightful and justice-seeking struggles. We must never overlook the importance of political support for the Palestinian people, which holds a special priority in today's world. Muslim and freedom-seeking nations, with every inclination and method, can unite around one goal, which is Palestine and the necessity of striving for its liberation. With the signs of the decline of the Zionist regime and the weakness that has overtaken its main allies, especially the United States of America, it is observed that gradually, the global atmosphere is also leaning towards confronting the hostile, illegal, and inhumane actions of the Zionist regime; however, the global community and the countries of the region have not yet been able to fulfill their responsibilities regarding this humanitarian issue.

The brutal suppression of the Palestinian nation, widespread arrests, killings and looting, the usurpation of this nation's lands and the establishment of settlements on them, the efforts to change the face and identity of the holy city of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque and other sacred Islamic and Christian sites there, the deprivation of the basic rights of citizens, and many other injustices continue and are supported by the comprehensive backing of the United States of America and some other Western governments, and unfortunately, they do not face a proper global reaction. The Palestinian nation is proud that God the Almighty has bestowed upon them the great mission of defending this holy land and Al-Aqsa Mosque. This nation has no choice but to rely on the Almighty Lord and its inherent capabilities to keep the flame of struggle alive, and indeed, it has done so thus far. The Intifada that has now begun in the occupied territories for the third time is more oppressed than the previous two Intifadas, yet it is moving forward brightly and with hope, and God willing, you will see that this Intifada will mark a very important stage in the history of struggles and impose another defeat on the usurping regime. This cancerous tumor has grown since its inception and has become the current calamity, and its treatment must also be a stage that several Intifadas and persistent resistance have been able to achieve very important stage goals, and it continues to surge forward to realize its other goals until the complete liberation of Palestine.

The great Palestinian nation, which alone bears the heavy burden of confronting global Zionism and its tyrannical supporters, is patient and resilient, yet strong and steadfast, has given all claimants the opportunity to test their claims. On the day when the false claim of realism and the necessity of accepting minimal rights to prevent their loss was seriously proposed, the Palestinian nation and even all the movements that had previously proven the falsehood of this viewpoint gave it a chance. Of course, the Islamic Republic of Iran has emphasized from the very beginning the falsehood of these conciliatory methods and pointed out their harmful effects and heavy losses. The opportunity given to the process of reconciliation has had destructive effects on the path of resistance and struggle of the Palestinian nation; however, the only benefit of it was to prove the falsehood of the notion of realism in practice. Essentially, the method and manner of the formation of the Zionist regime is such that it cannot abandon expansionism, oppression, and the violation of the legitimate rights of Palestinians; because its existence and identity are contingent upon the gradual destruction of the identity and existence of Palestine. For indeed, the illegitimate existence of the Zionist regime will only be sustainable if it is built upon the ruins of the identity and existence of Palestine. That is why protecting the Palestinian identity and safeguarding all the signs of this rightful and natural identity is a duty, a necessity, and a sacred jihad. As long as the name of Palestine, the memory of Palestine, and the flame of the comprehensive resistance of this nation remain alive, it is impossible for the foundations of the occupying regime to be strengthened.

The problem with the reconciliation process is not only that it grants legitimacy to the usurping regime by conceding the rights of a nation, which is a great and unforgivable mistake, but the problem is that it fundamentally has no proportion to the current conditions of the Palestinian issue and does not take into account the expansionist, oppressive, and greedy characteristics of the Zionists; however, this nation, by seizing the opportunity, has been able to prove the falsehood of the claims of the proponents of reconciliation and as a result, a kind of national consensus has formed regarding the correct methods of struggle to realize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation.

Now, the people of Palestine have experienced two different models in their three-decade history and have realized the extent of their suitability to their conditions. In contrast to the reconciliation process, there stands the model of heroic and continuous resistance of the sacred Intifada, which has brought tremendous achievements for this nation. It is no coincidence that these days we observe that from certain known centers, "resistance" is under attack or "Intifada" is questioned. No expectation other than this can be held of the enemy; for it fully understands the correctness of this path and its fruitful nature; however, sometimes we observe that some movements and even countries that outwardly claim to support the Palestinian issue, but in reality seek to divert the correct path of this nation, attack the resistance. Their claim is that after several decades of existence, the resistance has still not been able to achieve the freedom of Palestine; therefore, this method needs to be reconsidered! In response, it must be said: It is true that the resistance has not yet been able to achieve its ultimate goal, which is the freedom of all of Palestine, but the resistance has been able to keep the Palestinian issue alive. We must consider what condition we would be in if there were no resistance? The most important achievement of the resistance is to create a fundamental barrier against the Zionist projects. The success of the resistance lies in imposing a war of attrition on the enemy, meaning it has been able to thwart the main program of the Zionist regime, which was to dominate the entire region. In this process, we must rightly honor the principle of resistance and the warriors who have resisted from the very beginning of the establishment of the Zionist regime, who have kept the flag of resistance raised by sacrificing their lives and passed it down from generation to generation. The role of resistance in the periods following the occupation is not hidden from anyone, and certainly, the role of resistance in the victory, even if slight, of the war of 1352 corresponding to 1973 cannot be overlooked; and from the year 1361 corresponding to 1982, when the burden of resistance was practically placed on the shoulders of the people inside Palestine, the Islamic resistance of Lebanon - Hezbollah - came to assist the Palestinians in their struggles. If the resistance had not incapacitated the Zionist regime, we would now witness its encroachment on other lands of the region, from Egypt to Jordan, Iraq, the Persian Gulf, and beyond; yes, this is a very important achievement, but it is not the only achievement of the resistance, and the liberation of southern Lebanon and the liberation of Gaza are considered two significant stage goals in the process of the liberation of Palestine that have been able to reverse the geographical expansion of the Zionist regime. Since the early 60s of the solar Hijri calendar corresponding to the 80s of the Gregorian calendar, not only has the Zionist regime been unable to encroach upon new lands, but its retreat began with its humiliating withdrawal from southern Lebanon and continued with its humiliating withdrawal from Gaza. No one can deny the essential and decisive role of the resistance in the first Intifada. In the second Intifada, the role of the resistance was also fundamental and prominent. An Intifada that ultimately forced the Zionist regime to withdraw from Gaza. The 33-day war in Lebanon and the 22-day, 8-day, and 51-day wars in Gaza are all brilliant pages in the record of resistance that bring pride to all nations of the region, the Islamic world, and all freedom-loving people of the world.

In the 33-day war, all the routes for aid to the people of Lebanon and the valiant fighters of Hezbollah were practically blocked, but with the help of God and relying on the immense power of the resilient people of Lebanon, the Zionist regime and its main supporter, the United States of America, suffered a disgraceful defeat that they will not easily dare to attack that land again. The successive resistances in Gaza, which have now become the impregnable fortress of resistance, have shown through several consecutive wars that this regime is weaker than to withstand the will of a nation. The main hero of the wars in Gaza is the valiant and resilient nation that, despite enduring several years of economic blockade, continues to defend this fortress with the power of faith. It is appropriate to commend all the Palestinian resistance groups, the Al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad Movement, the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah, and the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which played a valuable role in these wars.

Dear guests! The dangers arising from the presence of the Zionist regime must never be overlooked, and therefore, the resistance must have all the necessary tools to continue its work, and in this path, all nations and governments of the region and all freedom-seekers of the world have a duty to meet the essential needs of this resilient nation, which is the main foundation of resistance, steadfastness, and perseverance of the Palestinian nation that has raised valiant and resilient children. Meeting the needs of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian resistance is an important and vital duty that everyone must fulfill. In this process, we must not overlook the essential needs of the resistance in the West Bank, which currently bears the main burden of the oppressed Intifada. The Palestinian resistance must also pay attention to this important point by learning from its past that "resistance" and "Palestine" are more valuable and higher than to become entangled in the disputes among Islamic and Arab countries or internal conflicts of countries or ethnic and sectarian disputes. Palestinians, especially resistance groups, must recognize their valuable position and refrain from entering these disputes. Islamic and Arab countries and all Islamic and national movements are obliged to serve the cause of Palestine. Supporting the resistance is a duty for all of us, and no one has the right to expect anything special from them in return for assistance. Yes, the only condition for assistance is that this aid is spent on strengthening the foundation of the Palestinian people and the structure of resistance. Adherence to the idea of standing against the enemy and resisting in all its dimensions is the guarantee of the continuity of this assistance. Our position towards the resistance is a principled position and is not related to any specific group. Any group that remains steadfast on this path is with us, and any group that deviates from this path is distanced from us. The depth of our relationship with Islamic resistance groups is only related to their adherence to the principle of resistance.

Another point that must be mentioned is the differences among various Palestinian groups. Differences in viewpoints due to the diversity of tastes among the groups is a natural and understandable matter, and as long as it remains within this framework, it may even lead to synergy and enrich the struggles of the Palestinian people; however, the problem begins when these differences lead to conflict and, God forbid, confrontation; in which case, different movements, by neutralizing each other's power and capability, are practically walking in a path that is the common desire of all their enemies. The management of differences and varying perspectives is an art that all the main movements must employ and plan their various struggle programs in such a way that they only exert pressure on the enemy and strengthen the struggle. National unity based on a jihadist program is a national necessity for Palestine that it is expected that all different movements strive to realize the wishes of all the people of Palestine for its achievement.

The resistance is currently grappling with another conspiracy, which is the efforts of false friends who seek to divert the resistance and the Intifada of the Palestinian people from their path and make it the cost of their secret dealings with the enemies of the Palestinian nation. The resistance is smarter than to fall into this trap; especially since the Palestinian nation is the true leader of the struggles and resistance, and past experiences show that this nation, with a precise understanding of the conditions, prevents such deviations, and if, God forbid, a current of the resistance falls into this trap, this nation, as in the past, can regenerate its needs. If a group lays down the flag of resistance, certainly another group will rise from the heart of the Palestinian nation and will take that flag in hand.

Certainly, you esteemed attendees will only address Palestine in this gathering, which unfortunately has seen some shortcomings in the necessary and essential attention in recent years. Certainly, the existing crises in various parts of the region and the Islamic nation deserve attention; however, what brings about this gathering is the issue of Palestine. This conference can serve as a model so that, by emulating it, gradually all Muslims and nations of the region can harness their differences and, by resolving each of them, provide the grounds for further strengthening the Muhammadan (peace be upon him) nation.

In conclusion, I must once again thank all of you esteemed guests for your valuable presence. I also thank the honorable Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and their colleagues in the Tenth Assembly for the efforts they made to hold this conference. I pray for your success in serving the issue of Palestine as the primary issue of the Islamic world and the axis of unity for all Muslims and freedom-seekers of the world from the Almighty Lord.

May God's blessings and mercy be upon the pure souls of all martyrs of Islam, especially the esteemed martyrs of the resistance against the Zionist regime and all the sincere fighters of the resistance front, and also the pure spirit of the founder of the Islamic Republic, who devoted the most attention to the Palestinian issue. May you be successful and victorious.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.