Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has issued a scathing statement accusing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of funding Hamas to destroy the Jewish state. He said the IDF's intelligence unit had obtained a classified document found in the tunnels of Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip. Katz claimed that the material reveals direct links between Tehran and the Palestinian group. The document contains a request from Hamas to the IRGC's elite Quds Force for $500 million to implement a plan to eliminate Israel, including the attack on October 7, 2023. The minister stressed that this evidence confirms Iran's key role in supporting anti-Israel actions.

Katz called Iran the "head of the snake," implying that Tehran is behind the coordination and financing of terrorist groups in the region. He said that Israel intends to make every effort to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, considering this the main threat to national security. In addition, according to the minister, Israeli forces will continue to strike Iran's "terrorist satellites" until the so-called "axis of evil" built by Tehran through its controlled organizations is completely destroyed.

The accusations come amid a long-running conflict between Israel and Iran that has escalated since the events of October 2023. Hamas, which has received support from Iran, remains one of the main targets of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.

The situation in the region continues to escalate. In March, Israeli aircraft carried out a series of strikes on targets in Lebanon and Syria that, according to Tel Aviv, were used by the IRGC to transfer weapons to Hamas and Hezbollah. According to military sources, in recent months, Israeli intelligence has recorded an increase in financial flows from Iran to Gaza, which confirms Katz’s words about Tehran’s support for Palestinian groups. Experts note that in early 2025, Iran stepped up the supply of missiles and drones to its allies, which was a response to increased sanctions from the United States. At the same time, Israel strengthened cooperation with Washington, receiving additional air defense systems to protect against potential attacks.