Israeli Defence Minister Katz alleges direct links between Hamas and Iran

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas of maintaining direct links with Iran, claiming that Tehran provided significant financial support to the organisation.

According to a statement issued by the Israeli Ministry of Defence, the allegations are based on a classified document reportedly recovered by Israeli forces from a tunnel used by Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The document allegedly outlines a request from Hamas to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force for $500 million in funding, purportedly intended to support operations aimed at the destruction of Israel.

Israeli officials have described the document as evidence of Tehran’s support for Hamas’s broader strategic objectives, including the October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli territory.

Katz reaffirmed Israel’s stance on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and indicated that Israeli military operations against Iran’s regional allies would continue.

By Aghakazim Guliyev