Palestinian group Hamas addressing the unexpected murder of the political chief of the group, Ismail Haniyeh, the organization stated it will soon commence a wide consultation to elect a new leader.
Hamas released a statement on their social media accounts on Sunday stating that Haniyeh’s “martyrdom” was only going to enhance further the group and their determination to press on with his methods.
Haniyeh’s killing that occurred in the Iranian capital, Tehran, early on Wednesday has been attributed to Israel by the Iranians. With Iran and its allies setting up their reprisal for Haniyeh’s assassination, the Middle East is already on Civil War alert.
Being Israel’s major partner, the United States announced that it would be sending more naval vessels and aircraft carriers to the region; many Western countries advised their citizens in Lebanon that they should leave as soon as possible as Hamas’s partner, Hezbollah, is in Lebanon.
The assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran occurred right after the assassination of Hezbollah’s military commander in Beirut; this move elicited threats of revenge by Iran and the “Axis of Resistance.” The situation remains very uncertain, and a new escalation of the conflict is still possible.
At the same time, the region awaits the results of the change in leadership within Hamas and possible reciprocal reactions from Iran and its allies.
