General Sharif, head of the Intifada (Palestinian uprising) and Quds Central Headquarters at Iran’s Islamic Propagation Coordination Council, made the remarks at a meeting of the central committee organizing the commemoration of the third anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Storm operation against the Israeli regime.

He said the Islamic Republic has consistently supported Palestine since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, describing the Palestinian cause as a major component of Iran’s political and social culture over nearly 48 years. He added that Iran’s approach has helped strengthen bonds between Muslims, including between Shiites and Sunnis, as well as among those seeking to liberate al-Quds.

General Sharif said Iran has maintained its support for the Palestinian people throughout the ups and downs of the past decades based on religious and Quranic principles, as well as national, humanitarian and emotional considerations. He described the Islamic Republic as a model among Muslim countries in supporting Palestine.

The nature of the Israeli regime and the objectives of the regime and its main supporters have become increasingly clear to global public opinion, he stated, adding that intellectuals around the world now have a better understanding of the Palestinian issue and its dimensions.

Turning to the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, Sharif said the Palestinian struggle against the Zionist regime has continued for more than 70 years, but the operation came at a time when Israeli officials repeatedly claimed that the Palestinian issue was over and that the regime had established a secure and invincible fortress that nobody could challenge.

He said the Israeli regime had cited its past wars with Arab countries to support its claims of military superiority. However, Al-Aqsa Storm demonstrated once again the vitality of the Palestinian cause and the spirit of resistance and struggle, while placing the Zionist regime under severe pressure.

General Sharif described Al-Aqsa Storm as a major success and a turning point in the Palestinian struggle despite the heavy costs paid by Hamas, the Islamic Jihad movement, the resistance front and the people of Gaza.

He said the operation targeted around 50 Israeli settlements, with some being captured or coming under the control of the resistance, while thousands of people were taken captive. These developments, he added, demonstrated that the aura of power the Israeli regime had built over the years could be shattered.

The Iranian official said the Zionist regime had constructed multiple security barriers and claimed that even the movement of a small creature across them could be detected. Al-Aqsa Storm, however, “shattered this myth” and showed that such barriers could be breached when there is sufficient determination and motivation, he stated.

Sharif also pointed to the participation of a new generation of Palestinians in the resistance, saying the fourth generation of Palestinians is now actively involved in the struggle. He expressed optimism about the future of Palestine and said developments are increasingly confirming predictions about the eventual defeat of the Zionist regime and the victory of the Palestinian people.

The greatest achievement of Al-Aqsa Storm is that it once again made the Palestinian cause a central global issue, the official noted, adding that the issue of Palestine and support for its people is now being seriously discussed at universities and in academic, cultural and political circles around the world.

Sharif said the Israeli regime had spent years trying to push the Palestinian issue into oblivion through its media apparatus, but Al-Aqsa Storm brought the cause back to the forefront of global public opinion.

He finally praised the Palestinian people for maintaining their resistance over the past three years, saying they have given renewed momentum to the resistance front and freedom-seeking people around the world.