Protest condemning the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, in Lebanon on July 31 – Picture: REUTERS
As of the night of July 31, Vietnam time, no occasion has but claimed duty for the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Given the tense state of affairs within the Center East, notably the Israel-Hamas warfare within the Gaza Strip, many conspiracy theories and accusations from Palestinians and Islamic teams are directed at Israel.
Key figures of Hamas and Hezbollah have been attacked within the capitals.
Vowing to “wipe out” Hamas after the October 7, 2023 incident, Israel has a purpose to assault a sure Hamas chief.
Iran, the place Mr. Haniyeh was staying earlier than the assault, was not an sudden location for an assault. In April, the 2 nations set a nasty precedent with tit-for-tat assaults on one another’s territory.
As well as, Israel itself has remained silent on the Hamas chief’s case. Even when requested straight, Israeli authorities spokesman David Mencer declined to remark, though he acknowledged that Israel is on excessive alert for doable Iranian retaliation.
“James Bond creator Ian Fleming as soon as famously wrote that when is an accident, twice is coincidence, however thrice is enemy motion. I contemplate this case twice sufficient to conclude that Israel has been very busy prior to now day, and that their achievements display a formidable capability to penetrate the stronghold of the enemy,” the Atlantic wrote in a commentary on July 31, not hesitating to query Israel’s function within the latest assassination of the Hamas chief.
Israel’s “busyness” refers back to the info that Hezbollah’s senior commander Fuad Shukr was lately killed, additionally within the capital (Beirut) of a rustic (Lebanon).
A message of each concern and… pleasure for pro-Iran teams?
Like Hamas, Hezbollah is an influential Islamist military-political group in two separate geographic areas, each of that are anti-Israel.
It could be tough guilty Israel with out proof. However for individuals who consider that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities is absolutely behind these raids, it’s nonetheless a chilling message.
In line with the Atlantic, by attacking and eliminating the leaders and commanders of the above Islamic organizations proper within the capitals, the attackers need to ship a transparent and first message: nowhere is secure.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have led observers to foretell that pro-Iranian teams will step up assaults on Israel. The 2 separate incidents involving Haniyeh and Shukr could have made it clear to Hamas and Hezbollah (and others) that Iran can not shield them. Or, because the Atlantic places it, “they’re solely alive as a result of Israel has not determined to kill them.”
So, if the “facet behind” has certainly determined to behave, do these two occasions sign the start of a large-scale retaliation, which may fairly frankly result in “Gaza 2.0” in Lebanon?
The price of warfare doesn’t appear to favor this state of affairs. By this logic, embarrassing Iran and sending a message to the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah could be sufficient.
This “feint” may deter Iran-backed factions, because it creates the impression that Tehran can’t be relied upon. In some methods, in response to the Atlantic, the assassination of Mr. Haniyeh might be an indication of “aid” reasonably than a full-blown warfare…
Nevertheless, every other state of affairs is feasible, relying on the calculations of the events.
