According to "Al Arabiya," quoting three senior officials, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivered a clear message to Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh during their meeting in Tehran in early November. He stated that Hamas did not inform Iran about the October 7 attack on Israel, and therefore Tehran would not go to war on behalf of Hamas. Khamenei assured Haniyeh that Iran would continue to provide political and moral support to the movement, but without direct intervention, as indicated by the officials, who are from Iran, Hamas, and familiar with the discussions and requested anonymity, according to "Reuters."
A Hamas official also mentioned that Khamenei urged Haniyeh to silence voices within the Palestinian movement that publicly call for Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, to fully join the fight against Israel.
Hezbollah Surprised
Additionally, three sources close to Hezbollah confirmed that the group was also surprised by the attack carried out by Hamas last month, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, and that the group's fighters were not on alert even in villages near the border. A Hezbollah leader stated, "We woke up to war."
