Iranian Cleric Hopes Third Intifada to End Desecration of Aqsa Mosque
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Tehran's Provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati pledged Iran’s support for the Palestinian nation against the Israeli regime, and expressed the hope that the new Intifada (Palestinian uprising) would end Israeli aggression against the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“The third Intifada has begun once again,” Ayatollah Jannati said, addressing a large group of worshippers here in Tehran on Friday, referring to recent developments in Palestine.
“We hope that God willing, the movement will be in such a way that it frees Al-Aqsa Mosque from the desecration by the occupiers of the Palestinian territories,” the top cleric noted.
The remarks came as Israel has deployed more troops to the border with Gaza, where the ruling Palestinian group Hamas has called for Day of Rage demonstrations on Friday.
Media reports on Friday said Israeli forces have prevented men under the age of 40 from praying in al-Aqsa Mosque in the holy city of al-Quds (Jerusalem) as part of a bid to preclude Palestinian protests.
Intifada is a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation. The first Intifada took place between 1987 and 1993, and the second one from September 2000 to 2005.
Back in January, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei had underlined Iran's determination to continue support for the Palestinian cause.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran will remain resolved (in its support) until the day that the cause of Palestine is materialized," Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with Head of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command (PFLP-GC) Ahmed Jibril in Tehran at the time.
The Leader also noted that the issue of Palestine is among the top issues of the entire Muslim world.