Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the war on Gaza had entered a new stage, the satellite Press TV website reported.

"Israel's brutal and hard-hearted assault on Gaza has entered the realms of psychological warfare," Khamenei was quoted as saying.

"Israel's aerial and ground offensive in Gaza has entered a third stage," namely "a viral psychological campaign designed to sap Palestinian morale and resistance, a goal Tel Aviv failed to achieve by means of blockade and war," he said.

Although the condition in Gaza was tense, Hamas, the "legal representative of Palestinians," and the resistance had remained strong and unbroken, Khamenei added.

Earlier this month, Khalid Mashaal, Hamas political bureau chief, called for Iran's defense for Palestinians.

Iran never hesitated to pronounce its all-out support for Hamas during the three-week unprecedented Israeli military offensive on Gaza, during which about 1,400 Palestinians were killed and 5,500 others wounded.