Continuation of War in Israel and Gaza; Evidence of the Islamic Republic's Role in Designing Hamas Attacks

On the second day of the war between Israel and Hamas, amidst Western countries' support for Israel and indications of the Islamic Republic's role in initiating this war, the Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas's surprise attack was conducted with the green light from the Islamic Republic. The newspaper quoted senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, stating that Iranian security officials assisted in planning Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, and officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been collaborating with Hamas since July to design air, ground, and naval assaults. According to the Wall Street Journal, details of this operation were discussed in multiple meetings in Beirut involving IRGC officers and representatives from four Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Additionally, CNN reported on Monday morning that loud explosions were heard in central Israel and the outskirts of Tel Aviv. Hamas claimed to have targeted Ben Gurion International Airport, located just outside Tel Aviv. The group also announced that in response to Israeli airstrikes on their homes in Gaza, they fired 100 rockets at Ashkelon in southern Israel. A senior Hamas official also stated that the militant group had taken over 100 hostages following their unprecedented attack on Israel, a claim that has yet to be confirmed by Israel. Ziad Nakhalah, the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, announced in a televised speech that his group holds over thirty Israeli hostages, stating that these hostages will not be released until all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are freed. On the other hand, the Israeli rescue service announced on Sunday that at least 260 bodies were found at the site of an Israeli music festival following Hamas's attack on Saturday. Based on videos shared on social media, armed Hamas men shot at fleeing participants. The Times of Israel reported that nearly 40 hours after the first round of Hamas attacks on Israeli territory, the number of Israeli casualties had reached at least 700, with over 2,243 others injured. CNN also reported that from Saturday to Sunday evening, at least 413 Palestinians, including 78 children, were killed in Gaza, with 2,300 others injured. According to this report, power outages in the region pose a "major challenge for the medical sector" and threaten the lives of hundreds more who need treatment. These developments occurred as Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu on Sunday, reiterating his full support for the government and people of Israel against the unprecedented and horrific Hamas attacks. He also expressed regret over the hostage-taking of families, the elderly, and young children by Hamas, stating that there is no justification for terrorism. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister announced that leaders of European countries and Ukraine supported Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas attacks. Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a post on X that he had spoken with Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, and Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Leaders of two opposition parties in Israel also stated on Sunday that after discussions, they are prepared to join an emergency unity government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Shahin Modarres commented that the events of two days ago were not an intelligence failure for Israel but rather the result of a long erosion. The reactions of regional countries to Hamas's attack on Israel and the conflicts in Gaza were reported by Soran Khateri. Mahdi Aghazamani reported on simultaneous gatherings of Hamas supporters and Israeli supporters in New York. Ilan Berman stated that Hamas's attack on Israel stemmed from internal Israeli errors and the chaos instigated by the Islamic Republic. There was widespread support from U.S. officials for Israel and condemnation of the actions of the "terrorist" group Hamas. An emergency Security Council meeting regarding Hamas's attack on Israel ended "without result." Continuous contact between the U.S. and Israeli defense ministers; an American aircraft carrier is entering the region.