According to the head of Iran’s Basij forcesor, Commander Mohammad Reza Naghdi, relief and donation efforts have commenced for the reconstruction of Gaza after the 50-day war with Israel. A number of other Iranian commanders have also made statements about help from the Islamic Republic to Palestinian groups.

At a Sept. 28 press conference, Naghdi announced that a people’s committee for the liberation of Jerusalem would be formed soon, adding, “In consideration of the brutal attack of the occupying regime of Quds on the people of Gaza, and the closeness of the Day for the Assistance of Palestinian Children, we had consultations with friends at Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation and it was decided to begin the reconstruction help for Gaza.”

He did not offer specifics on the reconstruction efforts other than, “The Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation and Basij Organization have cooperated to prepare 40,000 Basij bases, mosques and hosseinyas [religious centers] for the reconstruction of Gaza.”

Naghdi added that help from the Iranian people should come in the form of cash donations rather than material donations because the lack of cooperation with Israel and neighboring countries made those types of donations more difficult.