2024-08-02 12:48:45
The assassination of the head of the political bureau of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran will lead to an increase in tension in the Middle East region. This opinion was expressed by the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Day.Az reports with reference to TASS.
She estimates that “the murder of Hania <...>is likely to increase tensions in the region as the United States presses Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.” His death will be seen as “a major victory for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” who had previously promised to “eliminate Hamas leaders.” The incident could “signal the beginning of a new phase” in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the newspaper adds.
Earlier, Hamas announced that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike on his residence in Tehran, where he took part in the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian. In turn, the Al Hadath TV channel reported that Haniyeh was killed as a result of a direct hit by a rocket; at the time of the attack, he was in his bedroom. According to a source from the Al Mayadeen TV channel, the rocket was launched “not from Iran itself,” but “from another state.” Deputy head of the Hamas political bureau Musa Abu Marzouk assured that this murder will not go unanswered.
The Israeli side has not yet commented on the information about Haniyeh’s death. Since the escalation in the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, Israeli forces have repeatedly struck the refugee camp in Gaza City where Haniyeh’s family was staying. As a result of the shelling, three sons and four grandchildren, as well as the sister of the head of the Hamas political bureau, were killed.
Haniyeh was elected head of the Hamas Politburo in May 2017 and re-elected to this position in August 2021. In September 2022, he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, during which the parties focused on the development of the situation in the Middle East region, with an emphasis on the Palestinian issue.