Ebrahim Raisi with Ismail Haniyeh
On Monday, Hamas expressed condolences for Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash, calling him an honorable supporter of the Tehran-backed Palestinian armed group.
Hamas praised Raisi’s support for the Palestinian resistance, and tireless efforts in solidarity with Palestinians since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza following the group’s October 7 attack.
The militant group praised Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who was also killed in the Sunday crash, for their intense political and diplomatic efforts to stop the Zionist (Israeli) aggression against Palestinians.
Iran, which financially and militarily backs Hamas, has hailed the militant group’s October 7 attack on Israel as a success but denied any involvement.
On April 13, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones in its first-ever direct attack on Israel.
That attack was in retaliation for an air strike, mainly attributed to Israel, that destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards on April 1, 2024.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war, violence has erupted throughout the region, frequently including Iran-backed Hamas allies. Israel has been fighting near-daily along its northern border with the powerful Tehran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
Also read: 31 Palestinians Died In Israeli Strike As US National Security Advisor Meets Benjamin Netanyahu
