Israel Gazans say thanks to Iran for rockets

by JewishNewsOne

Gazans have offered public thanks to Iran for helping them in the recent conflict against Israel, when Iranian-made missiles were fired from the Palestinian enclave towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Large billboards read "Thank you Iran," on three major road junctions in the Gaza Strip -- the first time there has been such public acknowledgement of Iran's role in arming Islamic militants in the area.



The billboards were not signed but Islamic Jihad said it was only natural to show gratitude for Iran's role in the conflict. Israel has always asserted that Tehran supplies Gaza with weapons, but until the latest conflict both Iran and Gaza's dominant Islamist group Hamas had not openly acknowledged the relationship.



During the eight-day Pillar of Defense operation the speaker of Iran's parliament said the Islamic republic was "honored" to have provided Gaza with military aid. Reports in Britain's The Sunday Times claim Tehran is already rearming Gaza militant group Hamas. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius recently stated that Iran bore "heavy responsibility" for the fighting in Gaza, and called on Tehran to stop arming Hamas and Hezbollah militants.