The Israeli military said it has recovered internal Hamas documents in the Gaza Strip that shed light on extensive coordination between the Palestinian group and Hezbollah inside Lebanon, allegedly conducted under direct Iranian oversight and without approval from Lebanese state authorities.

According to the Israeli army, the documents indicate that Hezbollah allowed Hamas to establish a presence on Lebanese soil, while facilitating its military buildup as part of a broader regional alliance backed by Iran. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.

Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, a spokesperson for the Israeli military’s Arabic-language media division, said the materials include records of meetings involving senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures, as well as a commander from Iran’s Quds Force, to approve joint military initiatives.

The documents suggest that Hezbollah agreed to store and transport weapons on behalf of Hamas, provide financial support, and assist in expanding the group’s manpower and rocket capabilities within Lebanon. The Israeli military said the findings underscore what it described as Hezbollah operating in southern Lebanon as “a state within a state,” undermining Lebanese sovereignty in service of Iranian interests.

The materials further outline Hamas’s efforts to procure advanced weapons, strengthen its armed wing, improve operational performance, and develop its missile program, as part of a strategy to expand its footprint in Lebanon and adapt to evolving regional dynamics.

Cooperation between Hamas and Hezbollah has intensified since 2011 within the framework of a broader alliance that includes Iran and Syria, commonly referred to as the “Axis of Resistance.”

International relations expert Khaled Halabi said Hamas’s influence in Lebanon is largely concentrated in Palestinian refugee camps in the south, where Hezbollah maintains its strongest presence. Despite ideological differences, he said, Hamas operates in close alignment with Iranian directives.

Speaking to kataeb.org, Halabi noted that 10 out of Lebanon’s 12 Palestinian camps—excluding Nahr al-Bared in the north and Jalil in the eastern city of Baalbek—fall largely outside effective State control. This, he said, allows Hamas significant freedom of movement and facilitates direct coordination with Hezbollah.

He added that multiple reports have documented joint military exercises involving Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon and Syria, simulating potential conflict scenarios with Israel. Hamas fighters have taken part in these drills alongside Hezbollah, reflecting what he described as an advanced level of operational coordination.

According to Halabi, ties between the two groups extend beyond military and political cooperation to include intelligence sharing and the exchange of expertise. He said their alliance predates the 2011 Arab uprisings, when both sides aligned closely in support of Iran and the former Syrian government’s regional policies.

Within this framework, Hezbollah has provided training to Hamas fighters, offered strategic political guidance, and used its media platforms to promote the group and reinforce its positions, contributing to Hamas’s growing influence in Lebanon.

Halabi added that the cooperation also covers operational planning, security analysis, and missile development. He said Hamas’s ability to operate freely inside Palestinian camps, combined with the logistical backing it receives from Hezbollah, has been central to expanding its military and political reach in southern Lebanon and nearby areas.