Should Hamas have rejected Iranian support?

The significant participation of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, in the funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi conveyed a clear message to the world and Israel: Iran remains unwavering in its support for Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, assured Haniyeh that the interim Iranian President, Mohammad Mokhber, would continue the policies of the late president towards Palestine, affirming that “the divine promise regarding the demise of the Zionist entity will be fulfilled, and the State of Palestine will emerge from the sea to the river, God willing.”

He added that the “first divine promise” had been fulfilled through the victory of Gaza’s people against powerful adversaries like the US, Nato, and Britain.

Haniyeh’s presence and his memorial speech at Tehran University underscored the deep ties between Iran and the Palestinian resistance. These relations have sparked significant debate, leading some to side with Israel against the Palestinian resistance due to Iran’s support and Hamas’s Islamic Brotherhood roots. Critics argue against Hamas accepting Iranian support, especially as Arab support has waned. Their sentiment can be summarised as: “We do not help you, but we will not accept you receiving help from God either.”

Khaled Meshaal, former head of Hamas political bureau abroad, echoed Haniyeh’s sentiments in his speech at Raisi’s funeral at the Iranian embassy in Doha. He lauded Raisi and Abdullahian’s roles in supporting Palestine, particularly in the “Al-Aqsa Flood’’ battle, emphasising Iran’s unwavering support since the Iranian Revolution. Meshaal’s remarks were not mere eulogies but reflected genuine gratitude for Iran’s long-standing support.

Critics argue that Iran has its own regional agendas. This might be true, but where is the counter-agenda? If Iran’s goal is to besiege Israel in Lebanon, Gaza, and the Red Sea, shouldn’t that align with Arab interests? Some claim that Palestinian resistance is now beholden to Iran due to this support, to which one might respond: did the Arabs offer support that Hamas rejected? When Haniyeh and Meshaal thank Iran, it is because Iran provided what no Arab nation did.

A 2020 US State Department report confirmed Iran’s annual contribution of $100 million to the Palestinian resistance, including Hamas, increased to $350 million annually by 2023.

Moreover, Iran has provided training and military support to thousands of Hamas members.

The relationship between Hamas and Iran has seen its strains, notably after Hamas moved its headquarters from Damascus to Doha in 2011, leading to reduced Iranian support. Despite these tensions, the relationship normalised, with Iran resuming its status as a major supporter of Hamas’s military wing. This support is seen as essential for the resistance’s effectiveness.

But what does Iran gain from supporting the Palestinian resistance? Researcher Muhammad Hussein Abu Hadid suggests that backing Hamas grants Iran soft power, attracting supporters of Hamas and the Palestinian cause.

Iran’s support presents it as a champion for the broader Islamic nation, not just the Shia sect, demonstrating its appeal to Sunni resistance groups like Hamas.

Without Iran, Hamas would not have been able to execute the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, as highlighted by Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute, who noted the crucial role of Iranian training, weapons, and financing.

Given the Arab world’s growing ties with Israel, Hamas’s turn to Iranian support is understandable and logical. Rejecting such support, especially when it changes the military dynamics of the Arab-Israeli conflict, would have been impractical.

The Palestinian resistance has the right to seek support from any quarter, and it is unreasonable to criticise it for doing so in the absence of adequate Arab backing.

Translated by Badr al Dhafari. The original version of the article was published in Arabic in Oman newspaper on June 3, 2024.