Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that “yesterday evening, additional ground forces of ours entered the gates of Gaza… This is the second stage of the war, the goals of which are clear: Destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities, and bringing the captives back home”. During a press briefing, he remarked that “Iran supports Hamas… provides over 90 per cent of Hamas’ budget. It finances, it organises, it directs, it guides”. “I cannot tell you for certain that in this specific operation [on 7 October], at this particular moment, they were involved in the micro-planning”, he added.