Hamas asked $500 million from Iran to fund October 7 attack:
Hamas asked $500 million from Iran to fund October 7 attack: Israel
Israel has made public an intelligence document that reveals a direct financial and operational link between Hamas and Iran, including a request for $500 million to carry out its plans to invade Israel
TEL AVIV — Israel has made public an intelligence document that,
according to its officials, reveals a direct financial and operational link
between Hamas and Iran, including a request for $500 million to carry out its
plans to invade Israel -- an attack that was executed on October 7, 2023.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz shared the document
and accompanying video on social media platform X, stating, "I am
presenting here for the first time a document that was found in the tunnels of
senior Hamas officials in Gaza, which proves a direct relationship between Iran
and Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Deif, as part of Iran's support for the Hamas
plan to destroy Israel."
The intelligence material was reportedly discovered by
Israeli forces during operations in Hamas tunnels and was unveiled during
Katz's visit to the IDF's "Amshat" intelligence unit, as reported by
The Times of Israel.
According to Katz, the document outlines Hamas's request
to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force for $20 million
per month over two years.
The stated goal -- to "uproot this monstrous
entity" and "end this dark period in the history of our nation."
Katz also claimed that Hossein Akbari Izadi, head of the
IRGC's Palestinian department, responded by assuring Hamas of continued support
despite Iran's economic hardship, affirming Tehran's strategic priority of
opposing Israel and the United States.
"In the document, Hamas demands $500 million from
the IRGC's Quds Force to fund Israel's destruction," Katz said, further
asserting, "Iran is the head of the snake."
He added that Iran's support extends beyond Gaza to other
regions, including Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria, and Yemen's Houthis,
branding it a broad "axis of terror."
"Israel will do whatever it takes to prevent Iran
from acquiring nuclear weapons and will continue striking its terror proxies
until the Iranian axis of evil is dismantled," the Defence Minister
declared.
The revelations come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu visits the United States for talks with former President Donald Trump
and other officials, reportedly focusing on the war in Gaza, trade, and
regional security concerns.
Meanwhile, discontent in Gaza appears to be growing.
The Times of Israel cited reports of fresh protests in
Jabalia, northern Gaza, where demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Hamas
are terrorists" and "Hamas are garbage."
Anti-Hamas protests have periodically resurfaced in
recent weeks despite reported crackdowns by the group.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented
attack on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and kidnapping 251
hostages. According to Israeli figures, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 35 of
them believed to be dead.
