Tensions between Israel and Hamas have deepened following a public statement by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who revealed what he described as first-time intelligence linking Iran directly to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

During a visit to the Amshot Division’s intelligence unit on Sunday, Katz presented what he called a classified document containing correspondence and recorded conversations between Iran, Mohammed Deif, commander of Hamas’s Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza.

According to Katz, the recordings were retrieved from Hamas tunnels in Gaza and allegedly show that Deif and Sinwar requested $500 million from the commander of the Quds Force—a branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—to fund a plan “to destroy Israel.”

The Israeli minister also claimed that Hassan Izadi, head of the Palestinian branch of the IRGC, responded by pledging continued financial support, reportedly saying:

“Iran, despite its economic hardships and the suffering of its people, will continue to pump money into Hamas.”

Katz concluded, “Iran is the head of the snake. Despite all its denials, it funds and incites terrorism from Gaza to Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and even the Houthis in Yemen—all under the goal of destroying Israel.”

Hamas Responds: “Fabricated and False”

In response, a senior Hamas official denied the Israeli claims in a statement, rejecting both the form and content of the leaked message. The leader called the documents “strange and incorrect”, insisting they are fabrications aimed at discrediting the movement and Iran.

Iran Maintains Denial of Involvement in October 7 Attack

The allegations come amid repeated denials from Iran, which maintains it had no prior knowledge or involvement in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that left approximately 1,200 people dead and around 250 taken hostage.

This marks the third time Israel has publicly released documents claiming to prove Iran’s direct backing of Hamas in the lead-up to the October 7 assault. Neither Iran nor Hamas has acknowledged the authenticity of the reported materials.