Esmail Qa’ani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), lauded the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas as the “biggest defeat” in Israel’s history. The agreement, which took effect on January 19, ended months of intense Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Qa’ani highlighted that Israel was forced to accept terms it had previously rejected, marking a significant failure for the Zionist regime. “After 15 months of committing relentless crimes against the oppressed people of Palestine and Lebanon, the Zionist regime was compelled to agree to a ceasefire, demonstrating their humiliation,” Qa’ani said, as reported by Iran’s Press TV. He further criticised Israel’s military forces, labelling them “bloodthirsty, child-killing butchers.”
The terms of the ceasefire include a phased exchange of captives and provisions for humanitarian aid to Gaza. As part of the agreement, the Israel Prison Service released 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women, minors, and elderly individuals. These detainees were transferred to the International Red Cross after medical examinations. In return, Hamas and the Al-Qassam Brigades released three Israeli hostages near the Gaza border.
This ceasefire follows a prolonged period of violence, during which Israeli forces conducted widespread bombings, including in the Jabalia area in northern Gaza. Footage shows Israeli troops withdrawing after 470 days of fighting.
In parallel developments, international legal entities have intensified scrutiny of Israeli actions. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes. Similarly, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) instructed Israel to prevent “potential genocide” in Gaza.
