Main Mediators’ Concerns on Gaza Cease-fire Talks
The two main mediators in Gaza cease-fire talks warned on Wednesday that the assassination of a top Hamas leader in Iran could deepen chaos in the Middle East by igniting a new escalation in violence.
The Gulf nation of Qatar, a mediator, expressed concerns that the attack could disrupt peace negotiations. Egypt’s foreign ministry also condemned the strike as a “dangerous escalation” and cautioned against further conflict in the region, implying that Israel might not be interested in regional stability.
Despite recent developments, analysts suggest that the decision to escalate the war rests with a few key decision-makers in Iran, Israel, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and that these parties are still motivated to contain the conflict.
Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh
Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political chief assassinated in Tehran, had been living in exile in Qatar for years along with other Hamas leaders. Iran-backed Hamas accused Israel of killing him during his visit to Iran for the inauguration of the country’s new president. Israel has not officially commented on the incident.
Israeli Strike on Hezbollah Senior Commander
On Tuesday evening, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militia, possibly lost a senior figure to an Israeli strike in a Beirut suburb. Israel claimed to have targeted Fuad Shukr, a senior commander responsible for an attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, resulting in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers. Hezbollah stated that Shukr was present at the strike location, without confirming his death.
Concerns of Further Escalation
Qatar’s foreign ministry expressed worries that the strike in Lebanon, combined with Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, could destabilize the region and lead to chaos.
