Ismail Haniyeh, the international face of Hamas and its top leader in exile, was killed in an airstrike in the heart of Iran’s capital, Tehran. The 62-year-old Haniyeh, who played a key role in maintaining the militant group’s ties with allies in the region, was targeted after attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president.
Both Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the assassination, making him the highest-level Hamas official to be killed by Israel since the deadly attacks on Oct. 7. The devastating Israel-Hamas war that followed has claimed the lives of over 39,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.
The European Union has called for ‘maximum restraint’ in order to prevent a full-blown regional conflict from erupting. The assassination of Haniyeh has heightened tensions in the already volatile region, with the possibility of harsh retaliation looming.
As the world watches with apprehension, experts like Tara Kangarlou, an award-winning journalist and professor at Georgetown University, provide insight into the implications of this targeted killing. The repercussions of Haniyeh’s death are likely to be felt far beyond the borders of Iran and Palestine, impacting the delicate balance of power in the Middle East.
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and the fragility of peace in the region. As the international community waits for responses from all sides involved, the future remains uncertain and fraught with tension.
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Video “Haniyeh killed in the ‘heart’ of Iran’s capital: ‘There will most certainly be harsh retaliation'” was uploaded on 07/31/2024 to Youtube Channel FRANCE 24 English