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7 April – Jerusalem – Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz on Sunday released an intercepted document that he said is direct evidence of Iranian financial and strategic support for Hamas. The document was found by Israeli soldiers during operations in Gaza and was handed over to the IDF intelligence unit for analysis, The Jerusalem Post reports .
Request for half a billion – “for the destruction of Israel”
According to the documents, Hamas asked the Islamic Republic of Iran for $500 million to prepare a large-scale attack that later resulted in the bloody 7 October terrorist attack. The request, according to Katz, was made either immediately before the attack or before it was finalised.
Izadi and Kuds in the centre
Katz said that General Izadi, the head of the Palestinian Quds Force (an elite unit of the IRGC), approved the request of the then Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, both of whom Israel considers responsible for organising the attack.
The minister stressed that Tehran deliberately went to finance terrorism, despite the difficult economic situation and international sanctions:
“Iran is the head of the snake. It directs the terrorist activities of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and militants in Syria and Iraq,” Katz said.
Context and date of documents
Although the documents are dated October 2020 and June 2021, Israeli intelligence considers them part of a long-term process of Hamas’ preparation for a large-scale attack. At the same time, the Mossad points out: “Iran probably did not know the exact time and details of the invasion, but provided critical support with finance, weapons and training.
This new revelation reinforces Israel’s assertion that Tehran and Hamas have deep and systematic cooperation that goes far beyond political solidarity and becomes a matter of global security.
