TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran on Saturday urged Palestinians to stop infighting and respect election results after the Islamist Hamas-led government was dismissed following its bloody takeover of the Gaza Strip.“The Islamic republic has always voiced its opposition to infighting which hurts the Palestinian revolutionary goals,” foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Husseini said, according to the official IRNA news agency.
“We believe Palestinian groups should unite and fight the Zionist enemy to put an end to occupation and respect election results and its democratic outcomes,” Husseini said.
Hamas, which swept to victory in 2006 polls but is branded a terror outfit by Israel and the West, routed forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from Gaza this week leading Abbas to sack the government.
Iran is one of the most vocal backers of the Islamic Resistance Movement and has also helped the Hamas-led government during a crippling Western aid blockade by giving millions of dollars in financial assistance.