Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani’s words about what happened in Gaza in an interview conducted by Quran TV Channel

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The heinous crime of bombing Al-Ma'madani Hospital committed by the oppressive, child-killer and criminal Israeli Regime was a big and heartrending tragedy which has no precedent in history.

This horrific incident brought tears to the eyes of all people around the world. No person who has conscience can just ignore or be indifferent to this terrible massacre.

I extend my condolences to Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) on this tragedy. I hope this incident becomes a turning point in further international disgrace of the Zionist regime.

With their admirable steadfastness, though the brave people of Gaza have offered many martyrs in recent incidents, they have made the sinister nature of the Zionist regime further apparent to the people of the world. And we need the true nature of the Zionists becoming apparent to the world.

This regime has been trying to normalize its relations with Islamic countries under an enticing façade. The heads of Islamic countries fell for its deceptions and were in the process of resuming their relations. However, this horrendous crime unveiled the true nature of this deceitful regime and their cruel actions surpassed the crimes of all other criminals.

Through depicting themselves as the oppressed and through extensive propaganda against Palestinians, the Zionists had somehow influenced the opinion of the simple-minded as a result of which many people, including some Iranian and non-Iranian politicians, believed that Muslims or Iran should not interfere in the issue of Palestine. But today, it has become clear that if the world and the Muslims do not give importance to Palestine, Israel will not leave anything left of Palestine and Islamic lands.

Today, it is a war between Islam and disbelief. It is a war in which all Muslims are on one side, and on the other side is Israel, which intends to eradicate Islam.

It is, to some extent, consoling to observe that the true nature of this regime has become clear to all. Today, we see that all institutions and groups, both inside and outside of Iran, express their disgust with and aversion to this regime.

We hope to witness, God willing, very soon the downfall of this malevolent regime. These crimes are an omen indicating its end and good tidings promising its overthrow.

Based on religious foundations, every Muslim today has a duty to stand against the Zionist regime to the best of their ability. In our religious texts, defending the Islamic faith is a very clear subject. The obligation to defend Islam is not limited to men and the youth but extends to women, children, and the elderly, wherever the Islamic faith is in danger and it is indeed in danger today. No one has doubt about it. Today, the great Sunni and Shia scholars have a reason to invite all Muslims to jihad against Israel.

Today, the narration which says, "anyone who wakes up in the morning and is not concerned about the affairs of the Muslims is not one of us [i.e. is not a Muslim]," signifies the lowest level of one’s responsibility regarding other Muslims. As the uprising of Karbala, in which Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) sacrificed his own life to preserve Islam, today, the resilient people who lose their lives in Palestine are doing so to defend Islam. It is essential for all Muslims to pay attention to this cause. Everyone, in any part of the world, must offer any help that is within their reach as a religious obligation.

May God, on account of the pure prayers of Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him), soon rid humanity and Islamic lands of this cancerous tumor, Insha'Allah.

Peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you