Hamas publicly calls on Iran to stop targeting neighbouring Gulf states

Hamas issued a statement on Saturday calling on Iran to refrain from targeting neighbouring countries in the Gulf, while simultaneously affirming Iran's right to defend itself against the US-Israeli military campaign. The statement was reported in the Guardian's Day 15 live coverage. The Hamas call represents a significant and rare public divergence between Hamas and its principal Iranian backer on operational strategy. Hamas has maintained deep ties with Iran — including weapons, funding, and political support — but also maintains critical relationships with Qatar (which hosts its political leadership) and has historically sought to maintain Arab state support that Iran's Gulf targeting directly threatens. Qatar, which evacuated Education City and parts of Doha amid Iranian missile threats, is both a key Hamas patron and a country that has absorbed Iranian attacks. The UAE hosts Hamas-linked financial networks. Iran's escalation against these Gulf states creates a direct conflict of interest for Hamas — its Iranian weapons supplier is attacking the Gulf states whose political and financial support Hamas depends on. The statement's dual framing — affirming Iranian self-defense while urging restraint on Gulf targeting — reflects Hamas's attempt to navigate this contradiction. It also signals that Arab opinion, even within the resistance axis, is hardening against Iran's indiscriminate Gulf attacks. Hamas's public break on this question, however carefully worded, is a meaningful diplomatic signal.