Iran has reportedly urged Hamas to team up with Islamic Jihad to launch a fresh wave of attacks against Israel in response to the killing of three terrorists in Gaza, according to a report by Iran International.
The report stated that the call to action was made by the Iranian government as it exerted pressure on Hamas to respond to the assistance it has provided to the terror group in the past. The move would see Hamas unite with Islamic Jihad, whose leaders have close ties to the Iranian regime. The call to arms follows a surprise air strike by Israel that killed three Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza who were planning attacks from both Gaza and the West Bank.
The response to the Israeli attack from Palestinian terrorists has been swift, with rockets being fired from Gaza into Israel on Wednesday. Dawoud Shehab, a spokesperson for Islamic Jihad, warned Israel to "expect a response at any moment and anywhere".
The report noted that Iran has made its support for Palestinian terror groups clear, with the chief of Iran's general staff Mohammad Bagheri pledging that Iran "will assist Palestine with all its power".
According to sources cited by Iran International, Hamas leaders in Gaza are cautious about the prospect of a new military confrontation. They are mindful that it could harm Palestinian civilians, and also that they could be targeted by Israel. However, some leading figures living outside the Palestinian territories are advocating for Hamas to join Islamic Jihad to fight Israel.
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