“There is no more negotiation possible” after the death of Ismail Haniyeh, believes a specialist in the region

For Agnès Levallois, vice-president of the Institute for Mediterranean and Middle East Studies and Research, the elimination of the political leader of Hamas risks causing “indescribable chaos.”

Published


Reading time: 25 min

Agnès Levallois, vice-president of the Institute for Research and Mediterranean Middle East Studies (iReMMO), Thursday August 1, 2024 on franceinfo. (FRANCEINFO / RADIO FRANCE)

“There is no more negotiation possible”estimated Thursday, August 1st on franceinfo Agnès Levallois, vice-president of the Institute for Mediterranean Middle East Studies and Research, after the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, killed by a strike in Iran. Although this action has not been claimed, Israel is being singled out by Tehran and its allies. “There is a red line that has been crossed because this assassination is taking place in Tehran”she emphasizes.

Negotiations had nevertheless been relaunched in Doha between the Americans, the Israelis and the Palestinians: “This is all going to fall apartshe assures. “There is no more negotiation possible”.

Agnès Levallois feels that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh may be “A calculation on the part of Netanyahu” For “to force Iran into making a mistake, to force Iran to react because it is a terrible blow”. But according to her, it is also a way of diverting attention from Gaza since “All eyes are on Iran”. And especially, “This could also allow Netanyahu to close ranks behind him”especially the Western world, for “ultimately justify the continuation of the fighting in Gaza.”

Agnès Levallois did not think “that it would go that far” and fears that the region will return “in indescribable chaos”The spectre of a regional conflagration haunts Western diplomacy. “Iran cannot fail to react because its credibility is being questioned”the specialist believes. According to her, “There could be a coordinated operation in Yemen, Iraq or Lebanon. It is an absolutely obvious risk.”.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Iran had “the duty” to avenge the death of Ismail Haniyeh. “There could be an Iranian operation, but without excluding also a reaction on the part of the proxies (movements controlled or financed by Iran) in coordination, to clearly show that Iran cannot let itself be done in”explained Agnès Levallois.

Watch the show in full:


source site-24