Iran`s Khamenei compares Israel to "rabid dog, wild wolf", says Islamic world must arm Hamas

Zee Media Bureau/Supriya Jha Tehran: Rubbishing US and UN calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, Iran`s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for re-arming of Palestinian militant group Hamas so that they can defend the coastal city against the assaults of “rabid dog” Israel. Also Read: Gaza LIVE: Iran`s Khamenei says Hamas must be re-armed as `rabid dog` Israel commits genocide In a speech given to greet the Muslims on the holy occasion of Eid-al-Fitr, Khamenei mixed a lot of hatred and vitriolic remarks as he addressed Israel as a “rabid dog” and a “wild wolf” that was committing genocide in Gaza. Rejecting ceasefire options, Khamenei added that the islamic world must arm the Palestinians so that they can defend themselves.

“The world and especially the Islamic world should arm ... the Palestinian people," Khamenei said. "The US president issued a fatwa that the resistance is disarmed so that they cannot respond to all those crimes (of Israel)," Khamenei said in a televised address. Khamenei referred to US President Barack Obama`s call for disarming of Gaza militants and establishing a ceasefire. Khamenei`s comments did well to elicit protest rallies across Iran with people demonstrating against Israel`s offensive in Gaza that has claimed more than 1000 lives within 22 days. Meanwhile, Israel continued its assaults in Gaza as an angry PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the conflict may turn into a long-drawn war, and that he will continue the mission in Gaza until all terror tunnels of Hamas were destroyed. Israel launched a ground offensive in Gaza ten days after it started Operation Protective Edge, aiming to destroy a network of underground tunnels, which Israel says, are used by the Hamas to infiltrate and plan attacks on Israelis. Ceasefire hopes seemed to shatter, PM Netanyahu warned of a “prolonged” military offensive in Gaza, saying, "We will continue to act aggressively and responsibly until the mission is completed to protect our citizens, soldiers and children”. Despite a UN request for ceasefire on the holy occasion of Eid, violence continued to surge as Palestinian death toll has shot to 10,60. Israeli forces on early Tuesday attacked the house of ex-Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, his son, but the house was empty at the time of strike, reports said. Hamas also said that there was an attack on its TV station, Al-Aqsa TV. Israel, too lost five soldiers yesterday, the IDF posted on its twitter. Israeli Army launched Operation Protective Edge on July 8 to destroy the terror infrastructure of Hamas in order to ensure the safety of its citizens.