Eurasia Press & News
Iran has been Hamas’ primary strategic supporter since 2014, providing military equipment and training as well as financial aid amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars for the movement’s leadership and its military wing. Senior Hamas figures have also publicly thanked Tehran for providing weapons enabling attacks deep inside Israeli territory.
Hamas documents captured by IDF forces during the Gaza Strip War offer a glimpse into the extent of Iranian penetration of Hamas as part of constructing the “resistance axis” against Israel. In addition to supporting Hamas’ military activities, Iran supports other Gazan terrorist organizations and funds civilian, educational and cultural initiatives.
The documents also provide new information on Iran’s involvement in Hamas’ preparations for the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre, including coordination with Hezbollah and Hamas deployment in the Lebanese arena.
The documents reveal a strategic Iranian process to gain a foothold and exert influence over Hamas in particular and the Gaza Strip in general. Iran carried out the process by means of extensive funding, partially directed towards civilian programs, strengthening Shi’a within the Sunni society in Gaza (and influencing Hamas’ decision-making by controlling financial sources and the significant procuring of weapons.[1]
