Israel's Foreign Ministry: Operation Against Hamas Will Take Time

Israel's military operation against the Palestinian militant group Hamas will require a long duration, Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated on Monday.

"This will take time, not just a few days, but a long time," he told journalists during a briefing.

He emphasized that Israel believes Hamas is closely linked to the Iranian authorities. "Hamas is Iran's puppet," the minister said.

“We know that Iran has historically been a very active supporter of Hamas and has provided significant financial and other support to Hamas, and we believe Iran plays a role in Hamas's operations,” added IDF spokesperson, Major Libby Weiss.

Earlier, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani stated that Iran is not involved in the Palestinian Hamas movement's attack on Israel, claiming that the accusations against Tehran are politically motivated.