2024-08-01 05:22:22
Killing Haniyeh “was a mistake because it threatens the possibility of reaching a deal on the hostages,” said Anat Noy, 50, a resident of the coastal city of Haifa. – Today we woke up with fear in our hearts that the situation could worsen even more. There is no peace… we are afraid.”
On Wednesday, Hamas and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced that 61-year-old I. Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran. He had arrived in the Iranian capital to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian held on Tuesday.
As the political leader of the Palestinian movement Hamas, Haniyeh oversaw negotiations for an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip and release hostages held in the territory in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said Haniyeh’s killing had taken the war with Israel to a “new level” and warned of “huge consequences for the entire region”.
“Time is of the essence”
Months of talks between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Qatar and Egypt with support from the United States, have failed to reach a ceasefire and hostage-free agreement.
Both Israel and Hamas blamed each other for the delay in the deal.
“We will be happy when the hostages go home and the war is over,” said another Haifa resident, Avis Ben Ishai.
The Forum for Hostages and Families of the Disappeared has acknowledged military gains in the past nearly 10 months of war, but said “real victory” can only be achieved when the hostages are returned.
“Time is of the essence, so we ask the Israeli government and world leaders to decisively speed up the negotiations,” she said in a statement issued after Haniyeh’s killing was announced. “Now is the time to make an agreement.”
2024-08-01 05:22:22