Hamas Official Denies Iranian and Hezbollah Involvement in Attack, But Hints at Future Collaboration

A senior Hamas official has claimed that only a small number of top commanders inside Gaza knew about the surprise assault on Israel, denying reports that Iran and Hezbollah helped plan the attack. However, he stated that Iran and Hezbollah may join the fight if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation. The official also mentioned that Hamas has been producing its own rockets and training its own fighters since the 2014 Gaza war. Israel has indicated that it has evidence of Iranian involvement in the attack, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett referred to the conflict as a war against Iran. The official denied speculation that the attack aimed to derail US efforts to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, instead attributing it to a range of actions taken by Israel's hardline government. Israel has declared all-out war and mobilized reserves, raising the possibility of a ground invasion or reoccupation of Gaza. Hamas has so far employed only a small number of its own forces, and it may count on its allies, such as Hezbollah, if it faces a major setback.