Phantom of fear ...
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The Economist has reported that while these assassinations might showcase the intel and operational prowess of Mossad, they do not alter Israel’s dire strategic position. Its war in Gaza has been futile for months, and, more importantly, Israel cannot indefinitely engage in battles on all fronts.
Gideon Levy, an Israeli analyst, told the New York Times that the assassination of Hamas leaders and commanders is neither a victory nor beneficial for Israel. He said that Benjamin Netanyahu’s aim with these assassinations is to prevent the cessation of the war and possibly expand it. However, with Iran entering the arena, the game will change.
According to this Israeli analyst, contrary to Netanyahu’s belief, Hamas has not been weakened by such assassinations. In fact, today, it is much stronger than before the war began, he said. Politically, Hamas has gained more popularity and acceptance in the West Bank, the Arab world, and globally, and the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh will not change anything, he believed.
One of the negative consequences of the assassination of Haniyeh and Hezbollah commanders will be the halt or failure of ceasefire negotiations.
Hugh Lovatt, a Middle East specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations, in an interview with the Guardian, described the killing as a tactical victory, but a strategic defeat. “Haniyeh was a proponent of Palestinian reconciliation, and of a ceasefire. So, taking him out of the equation has an impact on the internal power dynamics within the group by strengthening the hardliners, at least in the current term,” he said.
Israeli analyst Levy also predicted that indirect negotiations between Israel and the Hamas movement for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange would be halted for a long time. Talks for a cease-fire cannot continue “when you are murdering the negotiator,” said Levy.
“Either you negotiate or you assassinate. You can’t have it both ways,” he said, adding that the negotiations “may be postponed for a long time.”
The Islamic Republic of Iran previously targeted several areas in Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones in response to the targeting of its consulate building in Damascus. Now that the illegal regime has once again crossed Tehran’s red line, Iran will not let go of its punishment. However, when and how this punishment will take place is unknown, this has become a nightmare for Israel, which must always be on alert. According to many experts, Netanyahu’s main goal in continuing the tensions is to extend the war and draw Iran into a conflict with this regime so that the US will also be forced to support Israel and enter a war with Iran. Tehran, however, has emphasized since the beginning of the Gaza war that it does not seek to escalate the conflict. Therefore, while the punishment of the criminal is certain, Iran will not compete in Netanyahu’s
playground.