Ismail Haniyeh Killing Amid no Hope

Hamas top leader Ismail Haniyeh has been assassinated on Wednesday at 2 a.m. local time in the Iranian capital Tehran where he was attending the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Just hours before his killing, the Israeli military carried out a precision strike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, who, Israel believes, is responsible for the recent murder of 11 children and a man in Majdal Shams town in Golan Heights. Israeli Military speak out that they carried out precision strike targeting the Hezbollah leader. Seven people were killed including an Iranian military adviser and 78 wounded in the Beirut strike.

However, Israel did mention nothing about the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. But no one across the world has any doubt about who killed Ismail. Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini has already blamed Israel and said Iran has a duty to revenge because Haniyeh had been targeted while he was a guest in the country. On the other hand, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made a defiant address on Wednesday evening, celebrating the strike in Lebanon and vowing to continue fighting in Gaza.

On April 1, 2024, Israeli strikes on Iran’s consulate in Syria have left at least 11 people dead targeting Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the highest-ranking Iranian military official to be killed since the January 2020 assassination of Gen Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad. In retaliation, on 13 April 2024, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel. It was the first time Iran directly attacked Israel after almost a half-century of being archenemies. Previously Israel and Iran had been engaged in a shadow war in attacking each other's assets without admitting responsibility. Iran knew, however, that a full scale war against Israel would be a difficult one. But it was also necessary for Iran’s prestige to show up her strength to the people of Iran, Iran backed Hezbollah militias and to Houti of Yemen as well. So before launching hundreds of projectiles, Iran let the West know that she would go to attack on Israel, so as to Israel and other neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan could prevent the missiles, drones and rockets, fearing if the result was catastrophic, a full scale war with Israel would take place. Yet after the attack, Israel retaliated by destroying parts of Iran’s sites.

But this time Iran feels huge need to retaliate and possibility of a full scale war is looming. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, Israel had provided the grounds for harsh punishment for itself and it was Tehran's duty to avenge Haniyeh's death. Moreover, a ceasefire proposal was on the table. We know a proxy war is going on. Israel is fighting with Iran backed three H’s—Hamas, Houtis and Hezbollah. But after the killing of Haniyeh, that proposal seems also been killed. Qatar and Egypt have been brokering talks aimed at halting the fighting in Gaza. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said on X that, “How can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on other side?” Since Hamas attack, Israel's operations in Gaza killed more than 39,400 people, according to Gaza health officials, and left more than 2 million in a humanitarian crisis and millions displaced. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed several times to complete annihilation of Hamas by rhetorically saying, ‘every Hamas man is dead’, dead man are walking.’ Although Israel’s ally USA attempted plans to end the Gaza war, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted that he would not conclude the war until achieving the elimination of Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities.

So, after the killing of most influential Hamas leader in Iran, it looks de-escalation of war is now on the run. In return, the human toll of escalating war in Middle East is profound, with increased casualties, widespread displacement, and severe humanitarian crises. Economically, countries involved will face crippling expenses and long-term damage to infrastructure and development. Politically, the escalation could lead to deeper divisions, both domestically and internationally, undermining efforts for peace and stability. The global community often grapples with the challenge of mediating and resolving this intensified conflict, striving to balance strategic interests with the urgent need for humanitarian intervention. But what we see for the time being is that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Mohshin Habib is a Writer and Journalist