Iran's Khamenei says Israel 'forced to accept defeat'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Friday said Israel was "forced to accept defeat" by Palestinian armed groups, after a ceasefire between the Jewish state and Hamas in Gaza.

"I thank dear and almighty God for the victory and honour bestowed upon Palestinian fighters," he said in a statement on his official website.

"The continuation of crimes and the ceasefire were both (part of Israel's) defeat. They were forced to accept defeat," he added, noting that Israel was "powerless against the unified rise of Palestine".

"The readiness of the Palestinian youth and the show of power" by armed groups in Gaza "will make Palestine more powerful by the day and the usurping enemy weaker and more despicable", he added.

I thank God for His aid and the honor bestowed on Palestinian fighters. I extend my congratulations for victory over Zionist criminals.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 21, 2021

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza strip, and other armed groups in the enclave appeared to be holding Friday, after 11 days of fighting.

Israeli strikes on Gaza since May 10 have killed 243 Palestinians, including 66 children, Gaza's health ministry says.

Rockets fired into Israel from Gaza have claimed 12 lives in the Jewish state, including one child.

Khamenei also called for legal measures against the Israeli government, including its prime minister.

"All the effective elements of this regime and the criminal (Benjamin) Netanyahu must be pursued by international and independent courts and be punished," he said.

The Islamic republic does not recognise Israel, and supporting the Palestinian cause has been a pillar of Iran's foreign policy since soon after the country's 1979 revolution.

Read also: Israel 'not a country, but a terrorist base': Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei

Hamas' political chief Ismail Haniyeh on Friday thanked Iran for "providing funds and weapons" to the movement.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman had earlier today praised a "historic victory" and reaffirmed Tehran's support for the Palestinian cause.

"Congratulations to our Palestinian sisters and brothers for the historic victory. Your resistance forced the aggressor to retreat," Saeed Khatibzadeh wrote on Twitter.

"PROUD to support your just resistance," Khatibzadeh added.