Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared on Sunday that attempts to disarm the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas have already suffered a “strategic defeat,” underscoring the movement’s continued resilience in the face of Israel’s prolonged military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement released on the second anniversary of the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, the IRGC also renewed its pledge that retaliation for the killing remains “inevitable.”

Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on July 31, 2024, while attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iranian authorities have consistently blamed Israel for the attack, describing it as a blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and international law.

The IRGC asserted that efforts to strip Hamas of its weapons have failed and will not succeed in weakening the Palestinian resistance. “The conspiracy to disarm Hamas will achieve no result and has already failed,” the statement said, arguing that Israeli attempts to dismantle the resistance have only strengthened the resolve of the Palestinian people.

The Guard maintained that the Palestinian resistance continues to withstand Israel’s military offensive and insisted that efforts to erode its capabilities would neither undermine its determination nor prevent Palestinians from pursuing their legitimate rights. It further stated that “Palestine’s final victory over the occupiers is closer than the enemies imagine.”

The remarks come amid ongoing discussions by international mediators over proposals for Gaza’s post-war governance and security arrangements, including calls by some governments for the disarmament of Palestinian armed factions.

The IRGC described Haniyeh’s killing as a “major crime” committed against an official guest of the Islamic Republic. It called the attack “a flagrant violation of international law, Iran’s national sovereignty, and its territorial integrity,” and stressed that those responsible would face consequences.

“The revenge for the blood of the martyr Ismail Haniyeh is inevitable,” the statement declared, adding that Iran’s response to these “major crimes” would be “harsh and decisive.”

The IRGC argued that developments over the past two years—including Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the expansion of hostilities into southern Lebanon, and subsequent confrontations involving Iran—demonstrate Israel’s increasingly aggressive regional policies. It accused Israel of carrying out widespread attacks that have caused extensive civilian casualties, massive destruction, and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Iran has repeatedly condemned the offensive, accusing Israel of committing genocide and calling for international accountability for attacks on Palestinian civilians.

The statement also held the United States and several Western governments responsible for enabling Israel’s actions through continued political, military, and diplomatic support. It criticized certain regional governments for cooperating with Israel, arguing that such assistance makes them complicit in war crimes against the Palestinian people.

Reiterating Tehran’s longstanding position, the IRGC said peace and stability in the region cannot be achieved while Israel continues its military operations against Palestinians and maintains its occupation of Palestinian territory.

Marking the second anniversary of the assassination, the IRGC reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering support for the Palestinian resistance, insisting that efforts to weaken Hamas have failed and that accountability for Haniyeh’s killing remains a central objective of the Islamic Republic. (ILKHA)