GAZA CITY, Palestine

Hamas on Thursday denied media reports that its political chief Ismail Haniyeh met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

Media reports earlier emerged about a meeting between Haniyeh and Khamenei in the Iranian capital in recent days amid Israel’s ongoing military offensive on the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Hamas said it regretted the “publication of unfounded news.”

The reports said the Iranian leader told Haniyeh that Tehran was not given prior notice of Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack on Israel, despite suspicions in the West that Iran had helped organize the attack.

According to the reports, Khamenei told Haniyeh that while Iran would offer political support to Hamas, it would not “intervene directly” in the fight.

The media reports also claimed that Khamenei asked Haniyeh to “silence those voices” in Hamas calling for Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah to directly join the war against Israel “in full force.” Iranian leaders are reportedly leery of the conflict escalating into a regional war.

There was no comment from Iranian authorities on the allegation.

At least 11,500 Palestinians have been killed, including around 7,900 women and children, and over 29,800 others injured in relentless Israeli air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip since last month.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have been damaged or destroyed in the Israeli offensive.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at 1,200, according to official figures. ​​​​​​​