Iran's Larijani: Gaza to be Israeli 'graveyard'
Tehran parliament speaker says IDF ground forces encountered brave opposition on part of Palestinians, suffered great blow
Israeli tanks and infantry battled Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, hours after launching a ground offensive after eight days of deadly air strikes failed to halt the Islamist group's rocket attacks on Israel.
"The Zionists faced the powerful resistance of the zealous Palestinians ... the Zionists should know that Gaza will become their graveyard," Mehr News Agency quoted speaker Ali Larijani as telling parliament.
"Fortunately, the Israeli forces encountered brave opposition on the part of the Palestinians and suffered a great blow," Larijani said, according to the ISNA news agency,
MPs shouted "down with Israel, down with the Zionists," Mehr reported. Larijani's comments were the first reaction by a senior Iranian figure to Israel's offensive into Gaza.
Iran does not recognize Israel, which has accused Tehran of supplying Hamas with weapons. Iran denies the allegation, saying it provides only moral support to the group.
Israel's attacks on Gaza have sparked repeated protests in Tehran and elsewhere in Iran, mainly by students. Iranian officials have condemned what they say is international inaction and bias towards Israel.
Iran supports Hamas but constantly denies Israel's claims that it is arming the Palestinian organizations.
Larijani is expected to visit Damascus on Monday for meetings with senior Syrian officials on the developments in Gaza. He will also hold consultations in Lebanon.
Mashaal: Enemy was surprised
Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, visited Damascus on Saturday for talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad on the situation in the Gaza Strip.
Jalili also met with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal. According to a statement released by the Iranian official's office, Mashaal told him that any offer for a ceasefire "will involve an immediate end to the Israeli aggression and will have to take into account the human rights of the people in Gaza, an end to the blockade and a permanent opening of all the crossings, including the Rafah crossing."
Jalili told Mashaal that those who support Israel openly or silently "made a wrong calculation not just in terms of morals, but also in the diplomatic field, as they are linking their fate to the fate of this regime."
The Hamas leader briefed the Iranian official on the recent developments in Gaza and said that "the enemy was surprised by the people's determination and morale."
Jalili went on to visit Beirut, where he met with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabuh Berri and Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. The details of the meetings have not been released. Jalili was expected to also visit the grave of assassinated Hizbullah commander Imad Mugniyah and return to Damascus on Sunday.
