Hamas issued a poignant appeal to Tehran Saturday, urging it to refrain from targeting neighboring countries despite asserting the Islamic Republic’s right to counter aggression by Israel and the United States.
The group’s statement came as Hamas continued its public condemnation of ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, which had commenced on February 28. In an unexpected turn, Hamas also appealed directly to the international community for a swift cessation of the conflict.
In their statement, Hamas declared that while Iran has the right to defend itself according to international norms and laws, they called on Iranian citizens to avoid harming their neighbors. “While supporting the Islamic Republic’s ability to respond to this aggression through all available means,” said Hamas, “we implore our brothers in Tehran to remain within boundaries of peace.”
This marked Hamas’ first public plea for restraint from Iran since the war’s inception. The group previously condemned the assassination of Ali Khamenei as a grave act against international norms and called upon his son Mojtaba to shoulder leadership responsibilities.
Hamas also highlighted their longstanding support for the Iranian regime, acknowledging that Ayatollah Khamenei had provided critical political, diplomatic, and military backing to their cause. As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed on Friday that the new supreme leader had sustained injuries, this further underscored Hamas’s connections with Iran amidst ongoing conflict.
The call to action extended beyond just inter-Arab tensions; Hamas also reached out to several nations including Qatar, Turkey, and Iraq for assistance in mediating a resolution. “The Israeli occupation is trying to sow discord between Iran and its neighbors,” said an anonymous Hamas representative, alluding to the region’s complex geopolitics.
In contrast, Iran has engaged in retaliatory strikes against at least ten countries since the war began. Qatar intercepted two missiles Saturday following explosions heard in Doha, with authorities evacuating certain areas for precautionary reasons. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar maintained shelter-in-place status for all remaining emergency personnel as a precautionary measure.
Hezbollah’s intervention has intensified the conflict by firing hundreds of rockets at Israel, leading to significant casualties on both sides. Lebanon alone reported nearly 800 deaths from Israeli strikes while Iran and surrounding regions have seen over 1,200 fatalities attributed to the war’s progression.
Since February 28, at least thirteen U.S. service members have died in the escalating conflict, highlighting the severe repercussions of this protracted battle. As tensions continue to escalate, all parties involved are facing intense scrutiny for their roles and responses within the current crisis.