Hamas mourns Raisi death, hails his ‘support for Palestinian resistance’
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES — Hamas on Monday expressed its condolences for Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash, mourning in a statement an “honorable supporter” of the Tehran-backed Palestinian militant group.
Hamas said it appreciated 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 said it appreciated Raisi and 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 our Palestinian people”.
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Iran, which supports Hamas financially and militarily, has hailed the militant group’s October 7 attack on Israel as a “success” but denied any involvement.
Article continues after this advertisementOn April 13, Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones in Tehran’s first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory.
Article continues after this advertisementThat attack was itself in retaliation for an air strike — widely blamed on Israel — that leveled the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards on April 1.
READ: Helicopter carrying Iran president in ‘accident’, search underway
Since the start of the Gaza war, violence has surged across the region often involving Iran-backed Hamas allies. Israel has been engaged in near-daily clashes along its northern border with the powerful Tehran-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah.