Imam Khomeini from Islamic perspective believed a holy status for al-Aqsa Mosque and divine reward for performing optional prayers there.
From very beginning of onset of the movement for the Islamic revolution, he had special concern. Imam’s stance came at a time when the international Zionism and imperial powers wanted to restrict the Quds issue to just the Arab world.
Since 1960s, Imam demanded the government to cut its ties with the brutal Israeli regime and the elements who were spreading and promoting the agenda of Baha’eism, a deviated cult created by colonial powers to sow discord among Muslims.
Imam on various occasions emphasized that must return to the cradle and lap of the Muslim world.
Imam Khomeini also strongly denounced the notorious treaty of Camp David between the Israeli regime and some Arab countries.
During a meeting with Yasir Arafat and representatives of resistance movements and activists, Imam emphasized the need to put trust in God the Almighty and stand up against Israeli occupation and undertaking serious efforts and struggle for liberation of al-Aqsa and Quds,
Imam's messages on various occasions in this regard remain as guiding star for the liberation of Palestine.
The annual event of International Quds Day is seen as an opportunity for freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith, to voice their support for the Palestinian cause and vent their anger against the apartheid regime in Tel Aviv, which has occupied Palestinian territories since 1967.
The International Quds Day is among the legacies of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, who is revered as a spiritual leader by Muslims across the world. Back in 1979, shortly after leading an Islamic Revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini named the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan the Quds Day.
Since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the Israeli regime has imposed strict restrictions on the entry and exit of Palestinians to and from the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque. Amid heightened tensions with Palestinian worshipers, Israeli settlers also press ahead with their frequent incursions and provocative rituals at the holy site.
The resistance movements in Gaza and elsewhere have vowed to confront the Israeli regime on multiple fronts.
Voices of solidarity with Palestinians once again resonated in Iran on International Quds Day. Every year, the occasion brings millions of people to the streets to condemn the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and its crimes against the Palestinian people.
Addressing the demonstrators, Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf noted that the Palestinian resistance groups have taught a lesson to the Zionist regime and the Quds Day showed us that resistance is the only way to our success and progress.
This year's Quds day is marked as Muslims are infuriated by Israel's fresh spate of raids on Palestinian worshipers at the al-Aqsa mosque compound. In the past weeks, the regime has intensified its violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In the early days after the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini stated that one of his goals was the liberation of Palestine from the Israeli occupying regime. But when Israel launched a new raid on the south of Lebanon on August 7, 1979, Imam Khomeini named the last Friday of the month of Ramadan as "al-Quds Day".
Iranians believe that International Quds Day is the embodiment of Muslims’ vigilance against Israeli atrocities, which shows that the plight of Palestinians will never be forgotten.