Conversation between Hassan Rouhani and Qassem Soleimani with Hamas Officials

On December 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had a phone conversation with Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, emphasizing Iran's continued support for the Islamic and Palestinian nature of Jerusalem. Concurrently, Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reiterated Iran's support for the Palestinians regarding Jerusalem during a phone call with military commanders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine. This dialogue occurred five days after a strategic shift in U.S. policy regarding Jerusalem. On December 6, Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the 'capital of Israel' for the first time in the 69-year existence of the Jewish state and signed an order to begin the process of moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This change in U.S. policy has pleased Israel but has provoked anger and concern among Palestinians and most Arab and Western countries. According to the Iranian presidential website, Rouhani condemned the 'insulting' U.S. decision, stating that it further revealed the nature of the U.S. and the Zionist regime to the world and showed that they do not wish to recognize the rights of the Palestinian people. Rouhani added that all Palestinian factions must respond decisively to the Zionist regime and the U.S. and that the Islamic world must stand united against this sinister plan. He referred to the Palestinians as a 'wronged nation' and affirmed that Iran would continue to stand by them. Ismail Haniyeh also reported recent events in the Palestinian territories following the U.S. policy change, asserting their determination to thwart the American and Zionist plans and recognizing the Islamic Republic of Iran as a strong pillar in support of Palestinian aspirations. Additionally, Qassem Soleimani emphasized Iran's readiness to provide comprehensive support to the Islamic resistance forces in Palestine during his phone calls with the military commanders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza. Reports did not mention the names of the military commanders he spoke with. Israel claims that the Islamic Jihad organization was established in Gaza over thirty years ago by Iran, which has been a key factor in forming its military branch. The leaders of Islamic Jihad maintained close relations with Iran during the Syrian civil war. Hamas has recently announced that it has normalized relations with Iran after years of tension due to the Syrian civil war, a fact confirmed by Iranian officials. However, in recent months, Hamas signed a national reconciliation agreement with the Fatah movement, mediated by Egypt, which was supposed to transfer control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority after ten years starting December 1, although this transfer has been delayed. The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, which have previously accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of interfering in Palestinian affairs, have not yet reacted to the phone conversations between Rouhani and Soleimani with Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials. On the evening of December 11 and the previous Saturday, Israel bombed Hamas positions in Gaza in retaliation for rocket fire from Gaza towards southern Israel following the U.S. statement on Jerusalem; Hamas confirmed that two members of its military branch were killed in the Saturday night attack. Hamas has strongly criticized the U.S. policy change regarding Jerusalem, calling for a new intifada, but aside from some clashes in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza border with southern Israel, there have been no signs of the anticipated 'intifada.' Hamas spokespeople stated that 'their actions will not be limited to statements' but did not specify what steps they plan to take. The phone conversations between Hassan Rouhani and Qassem Soleimani with Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials coincided with a speech by Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, who stated that 'Donald Trump's foolish decision will lead to the downfall of the Zionist government' and that 'Hezbollah and its allies in the region will refocus on the Palestinian issue after recent victories.'