Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh met with Iranian leadership in Tehran on Tuesday to celebrate the diminished support Israel is getting from its closest ally, the United States at the United Nations.
In a joint press conference with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Hamas leader said Israel is “losing political cover and protection even in the Security Council” and “the US is unable to impose its will on the international community.”
“The occupation (Israel) has failed, and they have lost support worldwide. Their objectives have been thwarted, and they find themselves in unprecedented political isolation,” he added.
Iranian state news agency IRNA describes Haniyeh’s visit to Tehran as “significant,” occurring only one day after the US failed to veto a UN security council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. This marks a significant departure from the terror leader’s last visit in early November, when news of his meeting with Supreme Leader Khamenei was reported only after he had already left Iran.
Haniyeh’s visit also coincides with Israel halting truce talks after Hamas demanded a permanent ceasefire in exchange for the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced Gazans, and a “real exchange of prisoners,” including many terrorists involved in the Oct. 7 massacre.
Israel has dismissed these demands as delusional.
In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Hamas is “clear proof it is not interested in continuing talks and a sad testament to the damage caused by the UN Security Council resolution.”
“Israel will not cave to Hamas’s delusional demands,” he said.
