The occupied Palestinian territories will be liberated only through resistance and unity of Palestinian groups, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday.

Khamenei praised what he termed the "Palestinians' motivations", which are rooted in their faith and the spirit of resistance against the occupation of their territories by Israel, according to Press TV.

"The only way to liberate the holy city of al-Quds (Jerusalem) is struggle and resistance, and other solutions are useless and futile," he said in a meeting with the visiting head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Ramadan Abdullah Shalah.

The Iranian top leader referred to the young population of Palestine as an important factor for the Palestinian resistance in the occupied territories.

"The Zionist regime (of Israel), as we have already said, will cease to exist if there is a collective and united fight by the Palestinian and the Muslims against the Zionists," Khamenei was quoted as saying.

He reiterated Iran's support for the Palestinian nation and said "despite being engaged in certain regional issues, the Islamic republic has always announced explicitly that Palestine is the number one issue in the Muslim world and has fulfilled its obligations in this regard."

source: Xinhua