Asked for evidence, Moed pointed to August meetings that took place in Beirut between the heads of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s Al-Quds Force, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and Hamas.
“With the presence of the Iranian minister of foreign affairs, then you see there is a clear link,” he said.
Iran’s response to the surprise onslaught is another sign of Iran’s backing, he added. “The praise that they received from Tehran, from the highest leadership — from President [Ebrahim] Raisi and others — the cheers in the streets, all of that points to very clear support — material and moral support and political support — for Hamas and Palestinian organizations.”
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that the United States is looking for evidence.
“As I stand here today, while Iran plays this broad role — sustained, deep and dark role in providing all of this support and capabilities to Hamas — in terms of this particular gruesome attack on Oct. 7, we don’t currently have that information,” Sullivan told reporters.
Blinken is expected to travel to Israel on Thursday.
Moed, a cybersecurity expert who previously served as deputy head of Israel’s foreign ministry’s African affairs division, has been on the job for six weeks in Ottawa. The ambassador-designate has yet to present his credentials to Canada’s governor general, a technicality that bars him from making direct contact with politicians until after a formal ceremony.
Asked about Israel’s short-term needs from Ottawa, Moed said it needs political and moral support in the fight against terrorism, “specifically against Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”
He added: “And, of course, looking at Iran as a player that is behind these attacks as a source for further escalation in the region.”