Iran threatens Israel, international community fears regional conflagration

The death of the Hamas leader, which Iran blames on Israel, has exacerbated tensions in the Middle East. The Shiite regime has promised a “severe” response, and families of Israeli hostages fear for their loved ones still held in Gaza.

Are we going to see a major escalation in the Middle East? Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian spoke on Wednesday, July 31. He attacked Israel and promised to do it “to regret” this “cowardly act”The fact that Ismail Haniyeh was killed in the heart of Tehran is an affront to the Islamic regime, attributed to the Hebrew state. On the Israeli side, the families of the hostages fear that this escalation, coupled with the recent elimination of one of the leaders of the Lebanese Hezbollah, will hinder the chances of release of their loved ones, still held in the Gaza Strip.

For the Islamic Republic, this is a hard blow. A sign that the security and intelligence services have failed, that Iran has not been able to protect the political leader of Hamas, who was a regular traveler in Shiite lands. Ismail Haniyeh had been in exile for five years and divided his time between Qatar, where he had his headquarters, Turkey and Iran, where he regularly came to seek political support, funding and weapons.

“It is our duty to avenge the blood [d’Ismaïl Haniyeh]”

Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran

The Hamas leader had come to attend the inauguration ceremony of reformer Massoud Pezeshkian in Tehran, which was held on Tuesday, July 30 in the capital. Ismail Haniyeh was received, along with the leader of Islamic Jihad, another pro-Iranian group in the Gaza Strip, by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. “The Islamic Republic will defend its territorial integrity, honor, pride and dignity, and make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly act.”wrote the Iranian president on his social networks on Wednesday, July 31. In a statement, the Supreme Guide promised to inflict a “severe punishment” to Israel. At present, the form that the Iranian response will take is still uncertain.

Could the crisis have direct repercussions on the 115 Israeli hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip? Their families are very worried. They fear that the first consequence of Ismail Haniyeh’s elimination in Tehran will be the cessation of all negotiations to reach an agreement on a truce in the Gaza Strip. And also the release of at least some of their relatives. Commentators have different opinions: a number of security specialists believe that the increased military pressure on Hamas is favorable to the conclusion of a release agreement.

But the majority of hostage families speaking out on Wednesday, July 31, think exactly the opposite. Several relatives of the hostages said that once again, it seems that Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are doing everything to torpedo an agreement, after the assassination of the Hamas leader. “A cowardly act, which will not go unanswered”threat in response un head of the political office of the terrorist group.

Israeli political class silent

The Hebrew state, however, has not claimed responsibility for this targeted attack in Tehran. Political leaders have refused to comment on the subject, with the exception of three far-right ministers who have expressed their satisfaction with the strike in Tehran on social media. Israeli media outlets point out that the Hebrew state has promised to target all those responsible for the October 7 attack, through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This applies whether they are in the Palestinian enclave or elsewhere in the world.

“Haniyeh’s death makes the world a little better.”

Amihai Eliyahu, Israeli Minister of Heritage

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Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says: “Israel does not want war but we are preparing for all eventualities”A new front is opening up, facing Iran and its allies, such as the rebels of Yemen, and Hezbollah after the strike on Beirut on Tuesday July 29.

Today, the risk of such a regional escalation is the major concern of the international community. Beijing was one of the first capitals to speak out on Wednesday, July 31. “We condemn this assassination”a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said. China maintains good relations with Israel, but it has also supported the Palestinian cause for decades, recognizes a state of Palestine and advocates for a two-state solution.

“If the international community does not take action to stop Israel, our region will face much greater conflicts.”

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his part, condemned the“treacherous assassination” in Tehran from his “brother”Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. “Once again, it has been demonstrated that the Netanyahu government has no intention of achieving peace” estimate the services of Hakan Fidan, head of Turkish diplomacy. China, Russia and Turkey have also condemned it. As have the Yemeni Houthi rebels and Hezbollah, two groups which form with Hamas what Iran calls “axis of resistance” against Israel.