On Monday, August 3, 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called Hamas’ newly elected leader, Khalil al-Hayya, to congratulate him and reaffirm Tehran’s ongoing support for the Palestinian cause, according to a Hamas statement reviewed by Fox News Digital. Pezeshkian told al-Hayya, “We are with you, and we support you in every action you take, despite the attacks we are facing,” reflecting Iran’s continued backing of Hamas amid ongoing conflict.

This development comes as President Donald Trump promotes a landmark Gaza disarmament deal and the Board of Peace roadmap aimed at stripping Hamas of its weapons and power in the region. Trump has linked reconstruction efforts in Gaza to Hamas laying down its arms. However, The Associated Press reported that by February, the Board of Peace had secured approximately $7 billion in pledges—only a fraction of the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild the devastated territory.

The reported call between Pezeshkian and al-Hayya highlights a central contradiction in Trump’s Gaza initiative: while the White House presents the roadmap as a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, Iran, Hamas’ longtime military and financial patron, simultaneously reaffirmed its support for the group and its new leadership.

Michael Milstein, head of the Palestinian Studies Centre at Tel Aviv University and a former Israeli military intelligence officer, noted that the compromise has been developing for months under pressure from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt. Meanwhile, Hamas has stated it agreed only to a phased and conditional process involving the storage of weapons after Israel halts attacks, withdraws forces, and allows more aid into Gaza, avoiding the term "disarmament."

Israeli military actions continue, with residents in Gaza being pre-warned to evacuate targeted areas. Israel has stated it will not withdraw from its current line in the Gaza Strip and will continue to counter threats to its civilians and soldiers.

Sources