An Iranian official said that the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh would be avenged in the “best possible way.”
According to a deputy commander from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran is ready to carry out the order issued by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to exert “severe punishment” on Israel over the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran.
On Friday, he informed Iranian media, stating, “The Supreme Leader’s directives on punishing Israel and avenging the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh are unmistakable. And they will be executed in the best way.”
In July, someone killed the 62-year-old political leader in Hamas in Tehran. After attending the inauguration ceremony for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel, though the Israeli government neither confirmed nor denied it.
Since that time, Iran has exposed the policy of targeted killings. And so on, by Israel in the region and in Iran itself. But what will be the reaction of the United States to the loud statements of Iranian officials? After all, remembered Themis: .The White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby stressed that Washington would be ready to defend Israel with ample resources within the region.
“When we hear such rhetoric, we must take it seriously, and indeed, we do,” Kirby remarked on Friday.
After growing concern over an imminent showdown that involves Israel and Iran, the U.S. military announced last week that it will deploy added hardware, including an aircraft carrier, to the Middle East. But at the same time, the U.S. and other Western states are also urging the sides to lower the tensions.
On Thursday, the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt issued a joint statement urging Israel. And Hamas to restart discussions for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“The U.S. does not want regional upheaval so close to parliamentary elections in November. The fact that Washington, along with other brokering countries, is encouraging the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza shows. A desire to increase pressure on Iran and postpone any potential confrontation over attacks on Israel,” said Al Jazeera senior political analyst Marwan Bishara.
Netanyahu never agrees to a ceasefire, Bishara said, which has “almost always zero” possibilities.
He added that Hamas needs real guarantees that the conflict will not proceed. Reconstruction must happen, and Israeli forces must withdraw from the enclave.
It’s also uncertain whether Iran would scale back its response to Haniyeh’s assassination. If a ceasefire in Gaza were to occur.
On Wednesday, the New York Times featured Yahya Sinwar’s new leadership position within Hamas, taking over for Haniyeh.
Abu Ubaida, speaking as the spokesman of the Hamas armed wing, stated that the Qassam Brigades are fully supportive of Sinwar and are “ready to carry out his decisions.”
‘Still very much alive and kicking’ In a brief statement on Friday. Ubaida said Sinwar’s appointment as the group’s new political leader exemplified that “it is still alive and strong.”
Reporting from Amman, Jordan, Al Jazeera’s Hamda Salhout said the possible revival of the ceasefire negotiations is expected to be the first round of talks with Sinwar at the helm of Hamas. It is unclear how Sinwar, wanted by Israel. And hiding at an undisclosed location in Gaza, will communicate with the mediators.
“So all eyes remain to see what will come out from talks. but there is certainly much tension across the region, which countries like the U.S. are trying to defuse. By saying perhaps a cease-fire agreement in Gaza perhaps will immediately bring regional stability,” he said.
