Did Iran instigate latest Gaza escalation?

Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip deny reports that Iran pushed for the latest round of escalation, despite Tehran's close ties to both Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Entsar Abu Jahal
Entsar Abu Jahal
A picture taken on May 20, 2021, from the northern Israeli town of Metula near the border with Lebanon, show people raising Palestinian, Lebanese and Iran-backed Hezbollah flags during a rally in solidarity with the Palestinians, on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Kfarkila, near a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) armored personnel carrier. The Israeli-Palestinian ongoing military conflict has many eyes trained on the Lebanese border for a reaction from the Iran-backed Hezbo
A picture taken on May 20, 2021, from the northern Israeli town of Metula near the border with Lebanon, show people raising Palestinian, Lebanese and Iran-backed Hezbollah flags during a rally in solidarity with the Palestinians, on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Kfarkila, near a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) armored personnel carrier. The Israeli-Palestinian ongoing military conflict has many eyes trained on the Lebanese border for a reaction from the Iran-backed Hezbollah, but observers argue the Iran-backed movement is unlikely to risk an all-out conflict. — JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Jerusalem Post revealed May 15 Palestinian concerns that Iran would thwart efforts to reach a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.

These concerns emerged after Iran recently praised Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and pledged to continue its support for the Palestinian resistance amid Arab, US and international efforts to negotiate a cease-fire. On Thursday evening, Israel and Hamas announced that they had agreed to an Egypt-brokered ceasefire beginning at 2AM Friday local time.

According to Palestinian sources quoted by The Jerusalem Post, Iran did not want the US administration or Egypt to take credit for succeeding in ending the fighting.

Following the announcement of the ceasefire, Iranian state media reported that Tehran offered its "sincere congratulations" to the Palestinians on a "great victory." On Friday, Iran also revealed a new domestically-produced drone it had named "Gaza" in honor of the Palestinians.

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