The hashtag 'Iranians Stand with Israel' Goes Viral; Users: 'The Head of the Octopus is in Tehran'

On the second day of the war between Israel and Hamas militants, a 'terrorist' group supported by the Islamic Republic, the English hashtag 'Iranians Stand with Israel' went viral on the social media platform X, with some blaming the Islamic Republic and stating that 'the head of the octopus is in Tehran.' Despite the Islamic Republic's full support for Hamas's attack on Israel, thousands of Iranians on social media have expressed support for Israel, turning the hashtag 'Iranians Stand with Israel' into one of the trending topics on Sunday, October 8. This support was met with a response from the official account of the Israeli Foreign Ministry on X, which thanked the widespread support from Iranians, calling it 'encouraging.' The 'Iran Novin' party issued a statement expressing 'full support' for 'the people and government of Israel,' stating: 'The Iranian nation, which has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the anti-Israeli policies of the anti-Semitic regime of the Islamic Republic, stands in solidarity with the Israeli people against these heinous terrorist attacks.' The statement emphasized that 'the threat to Israel's existence' and 'the promotion of hatred against Jews' are 'inseparable parts' of the Islamic Republic. The 'Noufadi' organization, a national union for democracy in Iran, also emphasized: 'Iranians are fighting to free themselves from the terrorist supporters of Hamas who have occupied Iran since 1979. In this battle, they are also fighting against the regime's anti-Israeli and anti-American propaganda.' Erfan Ghanei-Fard, a Middle East analyst and counter-terrorism researcher, identified the Islamic Republic as the main culprit behind this attack, stating: 'As long as Western policymakers do not take substantial action against the mullah regime in Iran for supporting terrorism, Tehran will persist in these malicious activities.' Maryam Memarsadeghi, a human rights activist and political analyst, described Israel's confrontation with Hamas militants as 'a just war' that, like the war in Ukraine, is 'essential for the future of human freedom.' According to Memarsadeghi, 'This is a struggle that has become necessary due to the evil of Islamist terrorism against innocent Jews.' Saba Bagheri, an artist and dancer, called the Islamic Republic a 'barbaric regime' that has 'occupied' Iran and has 'held Iranians hostage and terrorized them for over four decades.' She emphasized: 'What you see happening today in Israel is undoubtedly the work of the Islamic regime. We Iranians love Israel.' Some users, including Dariush Omran, a political activist and former political prisoner, have also compared Hamas militants to ISIS. The use of the English hashtag 'Iranians Stand with Israel' on Sunday, October 8, coinciding with the second day of the war between Israel and the terrorist group supported by the Islamic Republic, was used nearly one hundred thousand times on the X platform. Iranian users on social media emphasize the Islamic Republic's involvement in the Hamas attack on Israeli territory. Among them, Hamed Shibani-Rad, the interim spokesperson for the 'Iran Novin' party, wrote: 'Until the iron swords of the octopus's head in Tehran are targeted, there will be no peace in Israel.' Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated on Saturday evening that Hamas, in a brutal and evil attack on Israeli territory, killed innocent citizens, including children and the elderly. He emphasized that this attack occurred on Shabbat, a religious holiday, and its aim was to massacre civilians. The U.S. government has fully supported Israel and condemned the Islamic Republic's destructive role in the Middle East peace process. Meanwhile, Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on Sunday called the Hamas militants' attack on Israel a 'victory for resistance' and urged 'Muslim governments' to support Hamas. In the latest update on the battle situation, Prime Minister Netanyahu wrote on X: 'The first phase of this long war is ending in these hours with the further destruction of enemy forces that have infiltrated our territory.' Netanyahu stated, 'We are beginning a long and difficult war,' adding, 'A war that was imposed on us by Hamas's deadly attack, but at the same time, we have begun an offensive posture and will continue to fight without delay until we achieve all our goals.'