Mohsen Tanabandeh, a prominent Iranian actor and director, mourned his nephew

Gaza, too, is a flashpoint where Iranian influence is acutely felt. Hamas, the militant group controlling the Gaza Strip, has long received Iranian backing, providing it with funding, training, and weaponry. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, ignited by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack, has been viewed by Israel as a direct consequence of Iran's strategy to destabilize the region and threaten Israeli security. While Iran denies direct involvement in planning the October 7 attack, its long-standing support for Hamas firmly places it within the broader anti-Israel "Axis of Resistance."