Israel Hamas War: Within 24 hours, the Israel decided to eliminate two major enemies. Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukar was killed in Beirut on Tuesday. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh died this morning in Tehran. Hamas described an Israeli airstrike in the Iranian capital killing Haniyeh, a possible game-changing event in a regional conflict rumbling on.
High-Profile Killings Shake the Middle East
These were followed by other high-profile killings, which shook the Middle East region and undisputedly placed Israel as the number one in hostile actions against its enemies. Of all these, the death of Ismail Haniyeh is a huge strategic win for Israel. Haniyeh was born in 1962 in the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, the top leader of the Hamas organization, central to all activities and political dealing of that group.
Educated at United Nations-run schools and having an Arabic literature degree from the Islamic University of Gaza, Haniyeh’s involvement with Hamas began during his university years. When the First Intifada broke out in 1987, it was a real turning point for him, as he became an active member of the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli forces. These activities of his in the conflict led to several imprisonments by Israel, most notably in 1989 and later being deported to Marj al-Zuhur in 1992, along with other Hamas leaders, after his incarceration.
Haniyeh’s Leadership and Operations Outside Gaza
The political ascendency by Haniyeh continued when he became the head of Hamas’ Political Bureau in 2017. Though he was the leader, he largely operated from Qatar, managing mostly the activities of the organization from outside. He intervened in international diplomacy, playing a key role in peace talks mediated between Qatar and Egypt, especially in the recent conflagration involving Israel and Hamas that started on October 7.
Haniyeh’s Controversial Role in Regional Affairs
In 2018, the U.S. placed a designation on Haniyeh as a terrorist, a position that signifies his controversial role in regional and international affairs. His relations with Iran further complicated the matter; Iran’s relationship with Hamas was not limited to only financial support for the organization but also protection from the country’s leadership. These recent activities included attending the swearing-in ceremony of the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and activities with the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Shukar’s and Haniyeh’s death in the event was a dangerous aggravation of the regional conflicts that had been brewing and underlined Israel’s commitment to=nullifying its adversaries. The events are likely to send shockwaves across the Middle East, influencing the dynamics of power and conflict within the region.