Iran's Ayatollah warns of repercussions for invasion of Gaza

Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei warns ‘no one will be able to stop Muslims or resistance forces’ if Israel keep bombing Gaza – days after hundreds of thousands rallied to ex Hamas chief’s call for ‘Day of Jihad’

• Tehran has said it would directly or indirectly intervene in the conflict if needed 
• The comments follow a call for a ‘Day of Jihad’ around the world on Friday 13

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday that nobody would be able to stop Muslims around the world and resistance forces if Israel continues bombing Gaza, Iranian state TV reported.

‘If the crimes of the Zionist (Israeli) regime continue, Muslims and resistance forces will become impatient, and no one can stop them,’ Khamenei said.  

‘No matter what the Zionist regime does, it cannot make up for the scandalous failure it suffered,’ Khamenei said. 

The comments follow calls by former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal for a ‘Day of Jihad’ across the Muslim world last Friday, before hundreds of thousands of protestors turned out worldwide to show solidarity with the beleaguered Gazans as more than one million were forced to flee their homes.

Iran’s clerical rulers have long been vocal in their support for the Palestinian cause. Tehran makes no secret of its backing for Hamas, funding and arming the Islamist group that controls Gaza.

Khamenei added today that Israeli officials should be tried for their crimes committed against Palestinians in Gaza as Iran steps up rhetoric condemning the siege – and suggesting that an all-out invasion will be met with a response on other fronts.

Khamenei (pictured October 10) said on Tuesday Iran ‘must respond’ to what is happening in Gaza and called for an end to the bombardment of the Palestinian enclave

A masked Palestinian protester gestures while walking near flaming tyres during clashes with Israeli forces following a rally in solidarity with Gaza in the West Bank on October 13, 2023

Afghans protesters burn representations of US and Israeli flags during a protest against Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, while holding a demonstration on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

Protestors hold-up a large Palestinian flag during an anti-Israeli demonstration in Tunis on October 13, 2023

People attend a Pro-Palestinian demonstration with Palestinian flags and banners as they march from Times Square in front of the Consulate General of Israel in New York on October 13

A group of pro-Israel demonstrators gather to protest people attending a Pro-Palestinian demonstration with Palestinian flags and banners on October 13, 2023

Israeli soliders ride in their armoured vehicles towards the border with the Gaza Strip on October 16, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas

Israel has launched several raids into Gaza, having ordered half of the population to evacuate

Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes on the northen Gaza Strip, 17 October 2023

Tehran has repeatedly warned that an invasion of Gaza would be met with a response from other fronts – after a day where Israel also faced threats from Lebanon in the north. Pictured: An injured Palestinian boy sits on the ground at the emergency room of the al-Shifa hospital

The declarations of intent have rapidly heightened tensions in the fraught Middle East, sparking fears of a wider conflict in the coming days. Pictured: Wounded Palestinians arrive at al-Shifa hospital,

Iran’s declarations of intent have rapidly heightened tensions in the fraught Middle East, sparking fears of a wider conflict in the coming days. 

Tehran, which financially and militarily backs Hamas militants, celebrated the Hamas assault but insisted it was not involved, despite a report from the Washington Post claiming it was. 

READ MORE: Fears grow for wider war in Middle East as Iran ‘prepares’ to intervene if Gaza is invaded, Israeli strikes hit Syrian airport and Hezbollah threatens to help Hamas after fighter is killed by IDF as US sends second aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean 

On Monday, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke of possible ‘pre-emptive action’ against Israel by the ‘resistance front’ while President Ebrahim Raisi said time was running out to reach a political solution. 

Iran previously told Israel via the United Nations it would intervene if operations in Gaza continued, a report claimed, as Israel readied a ‘wide range of offensive operational plans’ including a ‘joint and coordinated attack [on Gaza] from the air, sea and land.’

He said that ‘the resistance leaders’ will not allow Israel ‘to do whatever it wants in Gaza’. 

Khaled Meshaal, who led Hamas from 2004 to 2017, called for a Day of Jihad around the world last week in response to retaliatory Israeli airstrikes.

He said: ‘[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday.’

Meshaal, who is based in Qatar and heads Hamas’ diaspora office, said the governments and peoples of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt have a bigger duty to support the Palestinians.

‘Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan… This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility,’ Meshaal said in a recorded statement. 

‘To all scholars who teach jihad… to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application (of theories).’

Jordan and Lebanon are home to the largest number of Palestinian refugees.

An Israeli embassy worker in Beijing was attacked on Friday, Israel’s foreign ministry said. Video geolocated by AFP shows the man was stabbed with a knife on a street in the Chinese capital.

‘An Israeli employee of the Israeli embassy in Beijing was attacked today,’ a foreign ministry statement said, adding that the attack did not take place at the embassy compound. The employee is being treated at hospital and is in stable condition,’ the statement said.

‘The motive for the assault is being looked into.’

Protestors in the West Bank were seen near burning tyres during clashes with Israeli forces following a rally in solidarity with Gaza by supporters of the Fatah and Hamas movements, in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on October 13, 2023.

Afghan protesters also burned representations of US and Israeli flags during a protest against Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, in Kabul on Friday.

Pro-Palestine demonstrators then gathered in New York City, chanting in support of resistance in a mostly peaceful protest. 

‘Resistance is justified when people are occupied!’ many chanted, labeling Israelis ‘settlers’ and telling them to ‘go back home’. 

‘If we don’t get no justice, then they don’t get no peace!’ sang one of the event organizers.

Two people – one Palestinian protester and one Jewish – were arrested for fighting at the scene.

Two people – one Palestinian protester and one Jewish – were arrested for fighting at the scene

Protestors in New York on Friday October 13, amid international protests in support of Gaza

American Jewish People gather for a demonstration in support of Palestinians at the Farragut Square in Washington DC, on October 16, 2023

Protestors against Israel’s planned military incursion into Gaza demonstrate outside the White House in Washington, DC on Monday, October 16, 2023

Palestinians evacuates a survivor from a destroyed house hit by an Israeli airstrike in town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes on the northen Gaza Strip, 17 October 2023

Repeated fire in recent days has claimed lives on both sides of the UN-patrolled border between Lebanon and Israel, which remain technically at war. Pictured: An injured Palestinian child is taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital

If Israel does invade the Palestinian enclave of Gaza in its war on Hamas, Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement has warned it may escalate its military involvement. Pictured: An injured Palestinian child is taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital

And Germany warned Iran not to ‘pour oil on the fire’ of the Israel-Hamas war, after the country’s foreign minister met with high-ranking Hamas officials.

‘Anyone who wants to play with fire in this situation and pour oil on the fire or ignite it in any other way should really think twice because we are facing a potentially major regional conflict,’ foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran and Lebanon’s terror group Hezbollah not to ‘test us’ in the north.

Speaking to the Israeli Knesset, Netanyahu warned Iran and Hezbollah, ‘Don’t test us in the north. Don’t make the mistake of the past. Today, the price you will pay will be far heavier,’ referring to Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah.

He also called on the world to unite as it did ‘to defeat the Nazis and ISIS’, and admtitted that there are ‘many questions surrounding’ last week’s disaster.

After Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel on October 7 and killed more than 1,400 people, Israel has unleashed a relentless bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip that flattened neighbourhoods and killed at least 2,750 people, mainly civilians.

Addressing parliament, Rishi Sunak condemned the Hamas ‘Pogrom’ as he said six Brits are confirmed dead and 10 more missing.

The PM insisted Britain would ‘stand by’ Israel as he insisted the country had the right to respond – although he stressed the need to avoid ‘broader regional instability’ and take ‘every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians’. 

Updating MPs after the Commons returned for the first time since the bloody attacks, Mr Sunak addressed Jewish community members in the gallery, saying: ‘We stand with you, we stand with Israel.’ 

‘The attacks in Israel last weekend shocked the world. Over 1,400 people murdered one by one, over 3,500 wounded, almost 200 taken hostage,’ Mr Sunak said.

He went on: ‘We should call it by its name: it was a Pogrom.

‘The families of some of the missing are in the public gallery today. We call for the immediate release of all hostages and I say to them: we stand with you. We stand with Israel.’

After Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel on October 7 and killed more than 1,400 people, Israel has unleashed a relentless bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip that flattened neighbourhoods and killed at least 2,750 people, mainly civilians. Pictured: An injured Palestinian woman is taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital

The PM insisted Britain will ‘stand by’ Israel as he insisted the country had the right to respond Pictured: Shells from Israeli artillery explode over Dhayra village, near the Lebanese-Israeli border, Lebanon

Rishi Sunak stressed the need to avoid ‘broader regional instability’ and take ‘every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians’. Pictured: Smoke rises from Israeli artillery shelling in Dhayra village, near the Lebanese-Israeli border

Mr Sunak (pictured) said the ‘terrible nature of these attacks means it is proving difficult to identify many of the deceased’

Mr Sunak said the ‘terrible nature of these attacks means it is proving difficult to identify many of the deceased’.

READ MORE: Hamas release disturbing video of Israeli hostage, 21, kidnapped from Nova Festival and taken across the border to Gaza begging: ‘Bring me home to my family as soon as possible’ 

‘But with a heavy heart I can inform the House that at least six British citizens were killed,’ he said.

‘A further 10 are missing, some of whom are feared to be among the dead.’

The government’s stance was backed by Labour leader Keir Starmer, who said that Parliament must speak with ‘one voice’. 

But despite the looming threat a defiant Hamas has said the threat of invasion ‘doesn’t scare us and we are ready for it.’

In a televised statement, Abu Obeideh, the spokesman of Hamas’s military wing, also revealed Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades were holding 200 people captive since a massive onslaught on Israel’s south on October 7, with about 50 others held by other ‘resistance factions and in other places’.

Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said earlier Monday Israel had been able to confirm and notify the relatives of 199 people held captives in Gaza.

According to Abu Obeideh, ‘we will release the foreign prisoners when conditions are ripe’.

More than a million Palestinians have fled their homes ahead of an expected invasion of Gaza by Israeli troops. Pictured: Injured Palestinians arrive to the al-Shifa Hospital

Desperate families were seen carrying mattresses on their backs as they heeded Israel’s warning of further retaliatory military action. Pictured: Smoke rises as Israeli attacks continue during the 10th day of clashes near the Gaza border in Sderot, Israel

Air strikes have cost more than 2,750 lives and rendered half the population of Gaza refugees. Pictured: Smoke rises from various areas as Israeli attacks continue during the 10th day of clashes near the Gaza border in Sderot, Israel

He said at least 22 hostages taken from Israel had been killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza.

The European Union has said that it will launch an humanitarian ‘air bridge’ to Gaza with the first flights this week, to provide ‘help and aid’ to millions of Palestinians trapped in the heavily bombarded enclave, President Ursula von der Leyen announced.

And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined calls for a humanitarian corridor to be opened into Gaza, saying urgent help was needed to address an increasingly dire situation in the enclave of 2.3 million.

President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to show support for the U.S. ally as concerns increase that the raging Israel-Hamas war could expand into a larger regional conflict.

Biden is looking to send the strongest message yet that the U.S. is behind Israel. His Democratic administration has pledged military support, sending U.S. carriers and aid to the region. 

Officials have said they would ask Congress for upward of $2 billion in additional aid for both Israel and Ukraine, which is fighting Russia’s invasion.

More than a million Palestinians have fled their homes ahead of an expected invasion of Gaza by Israeli troops. 

Desperate families were seen carrying mattresses on their backs as they heeded Israel’s warning of further retaliatory military action. 

1,000 remain missing, feared trapped beneath the rubble of ruined homes and offices. Pictured: Palestinians search for victims and survivors in the rubble of Al-Naqeeb family house leveled in an Israeli airstrike

Yesterday 600,000 displaced persons were reported to have reached the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis. Pictured: Palestinian children injured during Israeli raids in the southern Gaza Strip arrive in Khan Yunis

Around 400,000 are sheltering in facilities run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Pictured: Displaced Palestinians reside at an UNRWA-run school in Khan Yunis

Air strikes have cost more than 2,750 lives and rendered half the population of Gaza refugees. 

READ MORE: ‘Bring those two beautiful girls back home’: Uncles of missing Yahel, 13, and 16-year-old Noiya, who vanished during kibbutz massacre plead with the British government to help as they fear sisters were kidnapped and taken to Gaza 

A further 1,000 remain missing, feared trapped beneath the rubble of ruined homes and offices. 

Around 400,000 are sheltering in facilities run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. 

UN officials warned of an unprecedented catastrophe with hospitals expected to run out of fuel within a day, endangering the lives of thousands of sick and wounded people. 

The World Health Organisation has described Israel’s instruction to move patients, irrespective of their conditions, as ‘a death sentence’. Israel said Hamas uses vulnerable civilians as ‘human shields’. 

In a bid to avert further bloodshed, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli officials yesterday to discuss the crisis. 

But before it will facilitate the distribution of aid Israel has demanded the release of its citizens captured when Hamas infiltrated the country just over a week ago. 

Gunmen killed more than 1,400 men, women and children in the most barbaric circumstances. 

In a bid to avert further bloodshed, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (pictured) met Israeli officials yesterday to discuss the crisis

Since the attack, Israel has pledged to destroy Hamas. But a former UK senior army officer warned that no Israeli incursion into Gaza would eliminate the Iranian-backed paramilitary organisation. Pictured: Military mobility of Israeli security forces continues in Sderot, Israel

The UK Foreign Office said it was working with the Egyptian authorities to arrange the safe passage of UK citizens. Pictured: A picture taken from the Israeli city of Sderot shows a salvo of rockets fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip

Since then, Israel has pledged to destroy Hamas. But a former UK senior army officer warned that no Israeli incursion into Gaza would eliminate the Iranian-backed paramilitary organisation. 

Major General Charlie Herbert, an Afghanistan veteran, suggested rescuing the 199 hostages by military means would also prove extremely difficult. 

He said: ‘I can’t foresee a successful military solution to this objective. Diplomacy is better. The second objective is to capture or kill Hamas’s political and military leadership. This is a given, but, again, this won’t be easy in an operation of limited duration.’ 

Hopes were raised only to be dashed when a reported agreement to open the Rafah border crossing collapsed. 

The move would have let thousands of dual nationals, including Britons, leave Gaza and for desperately needed humanitarian supplies to arrive from Egypt. 

The UK Foreign Office said it was working with the Egyptian authorities to arrange the safe passage of UK citizens. However, the crossing remained closed yesterday. 

This meant trucks loaded with 150,000 litres of fuel to run water and sewage pumping stations in Gaza remained stranded. 

The charity Save The Children said that water was ‘running out’ in Gaza, with huge numbers of displaced civilians being rationed to one litre each per day. 

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced late Saturday that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group was on its way to the eastern Mediterranean to ‘deter’ any escalation

Israeli army Puma armoured personnel carrierss (APCs) move in a column near the Gaza border in southern Israel on October 14, 2023

The UN said it was ‘deep in negotiations’ with Israel and Hamas in a bid to reach an agreement over aid and to establish humanitarian corridors. 

About 400,000 Israeli troops have continued their preparations for an assault on Palestinian territory.

READ MORE: US tells 2,000 troops to be prepared to DEPLOY to the Middle East as second aircraft carrier is moved to the Mediterranean and Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza nears 

Russia also called for an ‘immediate ceasefire’, with President Vladimir Putin calling for the violence to end while making no mention of his on-going invasion of Ukraine that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians.

As the west prepares for Israel’s ground assault, the Pentagon has reportedly selected about 2,000 troops to prepare for a deployment to help Israel as a second carrier strike group steams for the eastern Mediterranean.

Officials said the troops will not serve in a combat role but would be tasked with medical support or advisory duties. 

Details emerged after the Department of Defense said the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group, which deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday, is on its way. 

She will join the USS Gerald R. Ford, which arrived off the coast of Israel last week.

The presence of two of the Navy’s most powerful warships will send a clear signal to Iran and its regional proxies, such as Hezbollah, not to escalate the conflict.

Police spokeswoman Ilse Vande Keere said officers arrived soon at the scene in Brussels, and sealed off the immediate neighbourhood

Protesters placed posters of kidnapped Israelis on a wall opposite the iconic building while others chanted, prayed and waved Israeli flags for around 90 minutes

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