We learned about Aqsa Flood operation in Israel from news agencies: Hamas leader Khalid Meshaal

Hamas' Director of Foreign Office, Khalid Meshaal, said Saturday he learned about the Aqsa Flood operation carried out by his group in southern Israel last week through television and news agencies.

"Television screens and news agencies reported the news. This is how we became aware of this big development,” he said in response to a question by the Turkish Haberturk television station. “At first, I did not know who was responsible for these attacks.”

Meshaal referred to the division between the political and military administrations of Hamas, as military decisions related to operations in the field that fall under the expertise of Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, in the Gaza Strip.

Meshaal said Hamas leadership “called for a meeting to organize the political struggle along with the war in the field.”

When asked if Iran or Hezbollah were aware of the attack, Meshaal said: "It is 100% Hamas decision. No other country in the region was involved in this, neither Iran nor Hezbollah."

The Hamas leader argued that the attack was "a natural reflex against Israel's accumulated crimes over the years."

Meshaal said allegations about Hamas killing children were not true.

"Show and document an example of what Israel claims. If Israel really had the documents, it would show it. This is Israel's classic propaganda," he said.

Meshaal said Israel violated the two-state solution agreement based on 1967 borders and argued that Hamas was not obliged to revive the projects that had been tried and proven unsuccessful.

He said Hamas does not control international aid coming to Gaza and the distribution of aid takes place under the organization of relevant countries.

Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip one week ago in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

More than 3,500 people have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict Oct. 7, including 2,215 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.