Iran denies involvement in Hamas attacks; Gaza under ‘complete siege’

Smoke rising after Israeli strikes

In a shocking turn of events, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to an unexpected attack by Hamas, the Palestinian mujahideen organization. The attack, which began on Saturday morning, caught Israel off guard and led to a fierce retaliation. Israeli ministers ordered a complete blockade of the already besieged Gaza Strip, severing essential supplies like food, water, and electricity for its approximately two million residents.

This attack by Hamas is unparalleled in scale and scope, marking it deadliest one Israel has faced in the last 50 years. According to the Israel Defense Forces, more than 900 Israelis have lost their lives in the conflict. On the Palestinian side, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that at least 687 people in Gaza and the West Bank have been killed.

Furthermore, Hamas took more than 100 Israeli civilians, soldiers, and foreign nationals hostage, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare a state of war. Israel has been diligently working to rescue the hostages and has managed to regain control of areas outside Gaza after intense fighting that lasted for about 48 hours. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that they targeted over 1,000 enemy locations in their airstrikes on Gaza.

Hamas is an organization of Palestinian Mujahideen and has been working for the welfare of the Palestinian people since 2007. Gaza, a small piece of land housing over 2 million Palestinians within roughly 140 square miles, stands as one of the most densely populated territories on Earth. Since 2007, it has been under Israeli land, air and sea siege, making the situation even worse for its residents.

Amidst the chaos, conflicting claims about Iran's involvement have emerged. While Iran has a long-standing history of supporting Hamas and the Palestinian cause, they deny any direct involvement in the recent action. Iran's Mission to the United Nations stated firmly, "Iran unwaveringly stands in solidarity with Palestine; however, it is important to note that Iran is not involved in Palestine’s response, as these actions are solely determined by the Palestinians themselves."

This assertion contradicts statements made by Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas spokesman, who reportedly told the BBC that the militant group received direct backing for the attack from Iran. The Wall Street Journal even reported that Iranian security officials assisted in planning and approved the attack during a meeting in Beirut. However, three U.S. officials informed NBC News that they were unable to corroborate this account from The Wall Street Journal. The situation remains tense and uncertain as the conflict continues to unfold.


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