Hamas and the Islamic Republic of Iran have a long and complex relationship. The 2 groups share a common goal of opposing Israel, but have significant ideological and strategic differences.
Hamas is a Sunni Palestinian Islamist organization founded in 1987. It is the governing authority in the Gaza Strip, and has controlled it since 2007. Hamas is considered to be a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel, and several other countries.
Iran is a Shia-majority country that in 1979 underwent an Islamic revolution. Iran is a regional power that has been involved in several proxy wars throughout the Middle East.
Islamic Republic of Iran began providing support to Hamas in the early 1990s. This support included financial assistance, weapons, and training. Iran has also helped Hamas to establish its own military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
Islamic Republic of Iran’s support for Hamas has changed over time. In the early 2010s, the relationship between the two soured due to Hamas’ opposition to Syrian government of Bashar Assad, a close ally of Iran. However, this relationship has improved in recent years.
In 2023, the relationship between Hamas and Iran is closer than ever before. Islamic Republic of Iran is now Hamas’ most important financial and military supporter, and provides Hamas with various intelligence and logistical support.
This support for Hamas is based on several factors:
First, Islamic Republic of Iran sees Hamas as a valuable ally in its fight against Israel.
Second, Islamic Republic of Iran shares Hamas’ ideological commitment to Islamism.
Third, Islamic Republic of Iran sees Hamas as a way to expand its influence in the Middle East.
Hamas benefits from Islamic Republic of Iran’s support in several ways:
First, Islamic Republic of Iran’s financial assistance helps Hamas to maintain its control over the Gaza Strip.
Second, Islamic Republic of Iran’s weapons and training help Hamas to improve its military capabilities.
Third, Islamic Republic of Iran’s intelligence and logistical support help Hamas to plan and carry out attacks against Israel.
The relationship between Hamas and Islamic Republic of Iran is a significant factor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Iran’s support of Hamas helps it to maintain its military capabilities in carrying out attacks against Israel. This support appears to make it more difficult for Israelis and Palestinians to reach a peace agreement.
Ideological Differences
Despite their close relationship, Hamas and Iran have significant ideological differences. Hamas is a Sunni organization, while Iran is a Shia country. Sunni and Shia Muslims have been divided for centuries, and there is a deep theological rivalry between these 2 branches of Islam.
Hamas appears to be more ideologically flexible than Iran, and seems to be willing to work with other Palestinian factions, including those that do not share its Islamist ideology.
Iran, on the other hand, is more ideologically rigid and is less willing to work with groups that do not share its vision of an Islamic republic.
Strategic Differences
Hamas and Iran have different strategic agendas. Hamas seems to be primarily focused on the Palestinian issue, while Iran appears to have a broader regional agenda: countering the U.S. influence in the Middle East, supporting Shia-majority governments, and promoting its own brand of Islamism.
These strategic differences have sometimes led to tensions between Hamas and Iran. For example, Hamas opposed Iran’s intervention in the Syrian civil war on the side of the Syrian government. Hamas also has concerns about Iran’s close relationship with Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia militant group.
In recent years, Islamic Republic of Iran’s support for Hamas has increased significantly. In 2022, for example, Iran provided Hamas with an estimated $1 billion in financial assistance. Iran has also provided Hamas with a variety of weapons, including rockets, mortars, and drones.
Iran’s support for Hamas has allowed it to improve its military capabilities in carrying out more sophisticated attacks against Israel. Iran’s support for Hamas has also made it more difficult for Israelis and Palestinians to reach a peace agreement. Israel has refused to negotiate with Hamas as long as it continues to receive support from Iran.
The relationship between Hamas and Iran is likely to continue to be a major factor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the foreseeable future.