Israel's intel minister: As backer of Hamas, Iran shares responsibility for attack

Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel says that for years Iran has been inciting Hamas to commit violence against Israel, training its people, financing its military operation and advancing the group's military capabilities. "As such, they clearly also bear responsibility for the attack," Gamliel told Al-Monitor.

Over 1,000 Israelis have died in the attack, and more than 900 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli response in Gaza. 

"We are at war now, declared by Hamas against us, with children, women, and elderly kidnapped and murdered — horrible scenes that remind us of the way Daesh operated," said Gamliel. "We know that Iran has been supporting Hamas in all sorts of ways. It’s not new. But for the moment, we are focusing on reinforcing protections on all fronts, including our borders in the north."

Gamliel is not responsible for gathering intelligence, a task that saw serious failures in not being able to predict the attack. That job lies with the Israeli army, the Shin Bet and other security agencies. Rather, the Intelligence Ministry develops strategies for national resilience, including on civilian issues such as energy and climate. It also coordinates cooperation between different intelligence bodies.