Iran hails Gaza truce agreement as a Palestinian victory

Tehran has hailed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the militant group Hamas as a victory for the Palestinian people and its supporters, while warning that the Jewish state may not honor its commitments.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei wrote on X: “The patience of the people of Gaza and the steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance forced the Zionist regime to retreat.”

The truce was announced on Wednesday, after 15 months of bloodshed triggered by the deadly raid in October 2023 by the Palestinian militant group. The fighting has claimed tens of thousands of lives, most of them in Gaza. The terms of the deal, due to take effect on Sunday, include the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has celebrated the truce as “a clear victory” for Palestinians. In a statement on Wednesday, it claimed that Israel’s inability to achieve its military goals, and the damage it has suffered, forced it to strike the deal.

The Iranian military acknowledged that Israel has inflicted significant damage on its opponents, including by killing the leaders of Hamas and the Lebanese militant movement Hezbollah, but emphasized that those groups remain active.

The IRGC cautioned that Israel could breach the agreement, and urged its opponents to be ready “to confront new wars and crimes”. It called for a celebratory mass prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to mark the outcome.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed gratitude to US President-elect Donald Trump for his support in facilitating the agreement. He thanked outgoing President Joe Biden for his assistance, according to a statement released by his office.

The ceasefire agreement was reached during Qatar-mediated talks in Doha. Netanyahu’s office has cautioned that some details are yet to be finalized.