That the Iranian government chose to stand vehemently by the side of the ousted Hamas government in Gaza is not surprising, but the close relationship between Hamas and Tehran is not something to be taken for granted. While Hamas is a Sunni organization inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood, Iran is non-Arab and Shi’ite. The sectarian divide is not something to be taken lightly in a region where religious differences and fervency of faith run deep.However, this did not stop some 70,000 Iranians from registering to participate in “martyrdom operations” against Israeli troops in Gaza drawn up by the paramilitary Basij movement.
