US, Israeli officials doubt Iranian involvement

Arab, Israeli and American sources and officials have all but agreed that Iran did not have a role in the Palestinian daring and surprise assault, despite reports suggesting otherwise. 

Speculation has been rife on whether Palestinian groups had outside help to launch the attack that blindsided Israel - despite having one of the world's largest armies and vast intelligence services.

Earlier on Sunday, the Wall Street Journal claimed Hamas and Hezbollah sources said Iran had spent months helping Hamas prepare its daring assault.

The report claimed senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) met with Palestinian groups in Beirut to refine the plan, with the IRGC allegedly giving Hamas and Islamic Jihad the final green light last Monday to commence the mission.

It also alleged that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian attended at least two of these meetings.

But since the WSJ report came out, Israeli analysts, the US, Hamas and even Iranian officials have denied these claims and said the Iranians had nothing to do with the execution of the attack.

One senior Arab source told Amwaj Media that IRGC officials are “very, very cautious” and would not attend bi-weekly meetings due to fears their plans would be leaked.

“They won’t risk making their plan known...and the idea of Amir-Abdollahian taking part in several meetings…defies logic,” said an Arab security source.

Iran’s mission to the UN also denied claims that Tehran had any involvement and said Israel was making these claims to “justify their failure” in stopping the assault.

Israel army spokesperson Brigadier-General Danny Hagari said there was no indication of Iranian involvement in the war in Gaza.

Late on Sunday, US Secretary Antony Blinken told reporters that there was “no evidence” that Iran had any involvement in the Hamas offensive.