What Could Happen In West Asia After Ismail Haniyeh's Assassination (X image@MOSSADil)
The killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political head of Hamas resistance group of Gaza could lead to grave repercussions in West Asia. Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV cited senior official of the group, Moussa Abu Marzouk as saying that the assassination of Haniyeh is a “cowardly act that will not go unpunished”.
Israel is yet to respond to the incident directly. In an X post, IDF (Israel Defence Force) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said “At this time, the IDF is conducting a situation assessment. If any changes are decided, we will update the public immediately”.
Haniyeh’s assassination is expected to bring serious escalation in West Asia. Since the leader was killed in Iran, Tehran might retaliate in high resolution to set the score equal. Iran and Israel were already on a heated face off.
Also Read: Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas Political Head, Assassinated In Iran: Report
Brigadier General Ali Hajizadeh of Iran said, ““Be prepared to tell the Zionists what the punishment is for shedding the blood of a guest in our home”.
Haniyeh’s assassination came hours after Israeli claimed killed top military commander of Hezbollah, Fuad Shukur, in an airstrike on a south Beirut suburb launched in retaliation for a rocket attack that killed 12 children at the weekend. Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the weekend attack. While confirming that Fuad Shukur was in the building, the group has not confirmed his fate.
All of the incidents may lead to a wider and greater escalation in the region. It is unclear as of yet, how Iran and Hamas would respond to the attacks.
Hamas said it was prepared for the lose of their leaders. On it Telegram channel, Hamas put out an undated clip of Ismail Haniyeh speaking in what appears to be an interview with television network Al Jazeera.
It was accompanied by a quote attributed to Haniyeh where he says “we feel the weight of the responsibility” of the Palestinian issue and are “prepared for these costs… martyrdom for the sake of Palestine”.
In a statement released, Hamas said Haniyeh “passed as a result of a treacherous Zionist raid”. “The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas mourns the sons of our great Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic nation, and all the free people of the world,” it said.
Also Read: Ismail Haniyeh Assassination: How Hamas, IRGC, And Israel Responded?
Senior Hamas’ spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri also reacted to the assassination, saying, “We are waging an open war to liberate [the holy occupied city of] al-Quds and are ready to pay any price”, as quoted by Press TV.
President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas denounced the assassination as a “cowardly action” and a “dangerous development.
Hamas’ fellow group, which is headquartered in Gaza, the Islamic Jihad, denounced the “sinful assassination” that had targeted “a symbol of the resistance”. It said that the the atrocity would not deter the Palestinian nation from staying on the path of resistance and keeping up their efforts to put an end to the regime’s crimes that had “exceeded all limits”.
“We affirm our cohesion with our brothers in the Hamas movement in resisting the usurping entity”, it said.
Also Read: Who Is Ismail Haniyeh, The Pragmatic Head Behind Hamas?
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization said, “Israeli enemy crosses all red lines and is pushing things towards a comprehensive war with the entire Resistance Axis,” which is “fully prepared for confrontation”.
“The enemy … will regret the sin it committed by assassinating Haniyeh and attacking Iranian sovereignty”, said Maher al-Taher, international relations officer of the Popular Front, as quoted by Press TV.
