Iran denies involvement in Hamas offensive against Israel

Iran has denied any involvement in the unprecedented attacks launched by Hamas within Israel.

Some 1,000 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza following a large-scale assault by the militant group Hamas that started early Saturday. The death toll is expected to rise with many people critically wounded.

The violence is the biggest escalation between the two sides for decades, with some analysts claiming Israel was caught off guard.

In a statement by Iran’s mission to the UN, it denied any involvement in the devastating attack.

“We emphatically stand in unflinching support of Palestine, however, we are not involved in Palestine’s response as it is taken solely by Palestine itself.”

READ ALSO: Israel-Hamas violence jolts oil prices

“The resolute measures taken by Palestine constitute a wholly legitimate defence against seven decades of oppressive occupation and heinous crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime,” it continued.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards helped plot the attack against its enemy Israel over several weeks, giving the green light for an assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday.

A spokesman for Hamas, Ghazi Hamad, told the BBC that the militant group had received support from its ally Iran. Others have helped too, he told the broadcaster without naming them.

READ ALSO: Israel-Palestine crisis escalates after Hamas rockets hit Gaza

US officials say they haven’t seen evidence of Tehran’s involvement.

Iran and Israel are key regional enemies in the Middle East, with Tehran supporting Palestine and often openly calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.

Both countries compete regionally, trying to assert their influence and interests at the expense of the other in several other countries.

Meanwhile, more than 500 targets of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were hit overnight from Sunday to Monday by airstrikes and artillery fire in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army announced.

During the night, fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck more than 500 targets of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.