## August 9, 2024, 3:00 AM
Israel informed the US that it was responsible for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh immediately following the incident, sparking outrage in the White House.
The Washington Post reports that the event was seen as a setback to ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and release the hostages, as a deal was reportedly close to completion.
Frank Lowenstein, a former special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations under President Barack Obama, criticized Netanyahu‘s actions, stating that he has “put the US in a bind.” Lowenstein expressed concern that Netanyahu’s tactics could potentially draw the US into armed conflict, and noted that such a development is not openly debated due to America’s unwavering support for Israel in the face of potential conflict with Iran.
The US has recently begun to view Netanyahu as a “dark horse,” actively seeking to provoke a major regional conflict rather than engaging in negotiations with Iran. The US believes that Netanyahu’s refusal to finalize the hostage release deal stems from his fear of his fragile coalition government collapsing.
Previously reported by The Cursor, the bomb that killed Haniyeh in the hotel was planted hours before the assassination by two Revolutionary Guard agents recruited by Mossad. Initial reports suggesting the bomb had been planted weeks or months prior were inaccurate.
Sources claim that two Iranians from the IRGC’s Ansar al-Mahdi security detail briefly entered Haniyeh’s room without raising suspicion. Approximately an hour after planting the bomb, the agents were secretly escorted out of the country by Mossad personnel. The report also details that the bomb was placed under Haniyeh’s bed and detonated remotely using a robot.