First Crack In Iran-Hamas Axis? Miltant Group Calls On Tehran To Avoid Gulf Targets | Exclusive

Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 14:22 IST

Sources say Hamas’s unusual public appeal is largely driven by concerns over its financial and diplomatic lifelines in the Gulf region

Palestinian militant group Hamas has publicly urged Iran to avoid launching strikes on Gulf states, signalling what intelligence sources describe as the first visible tension in the Iran-Hamas alliance in nearly 17 years.

Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Hamas issued a public call asking Tehran to refrain from targeting Gulf countries during the rapidly widening West Asia war. The statement has been reported by multiple Arabic-language and Palestinian media outlets and has not been denied by Hamas, while no other member of the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance" has contradicted the appeal.

The timing of the statement coincides with Iran’s ongoing ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, as well as strikes reported near Qatar and Oman.

Protecting Critical Gulf Support

Sources say Hamas’s unusual public appeal is largely driven by concerns over its financial and diplomatic lifelines in the Gulf region. The group is believed to rely on networks linked to the United Arab Emirates as a key conduit for transfers and financial flows that help sustain the fragile economy in Gaza Strip.

Iranian missile strikes on Emirati locations, particularly near Dubai, could disrupt these channels and threaten one of the last functioning financial pipelines supporting Gaza’s economy, intelligence sources said.

The group is also wary of alienating Qatar, which hosts Hamas’s political leadership in Doha and has played a central role in ceasefire negotiations and diplomatic outreach on the Gaza conflict. Iranian strikes near Qatari territory risk putting Doha in a difficult position and could force it to distance itself from the group.

Fear of Losing Gulf Backing

Beyond financial concerns, Hamas is also wary of the broader political fallout across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia, which plays a key role in shaping Arab League positions on the Gaza war, provides crucial diplomatic space for Palestinian political engagement in the region.

Analysts say Iranian missile strikes on Saudi territory risk provoking anger in Riyadh and could harden regional sentiment against Hamas, potentially undermining the group’s standing across the Arab world.

A Rare Public Divergence

The statement marks the first clear sign of friction between Hamas and Tehran, long regarded as one of its principal military backers. For years, Iran has provided funding, weapons and training to Hamas as part of its broader regional network of allied groups.

However, intelligence sources say the latest appeal suggests that Hamas is attempting to distance itself from Iran’s escalating regional confrontation, fearing that Tehran’s military strategy could jeopardise the political and financial support systems the group depends on.

Analysts say the message appears designed to protect Hamas’s relationships with Gulf states and preserve its international legitimacy, even as the regional conflict deepens.

While it remains unclear whether Iran will heed the appeal, the episode highlights the growing strain within the pro-Iran alliance network as the war spreads across the Middle East.

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