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15 September 2024

Israel’s Assassination of Hamas Head Creates Dilemma for Tehran

Reza Parchizadeh

The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, chairman of Hamas’s Political Bureau, in Tehran on July 31 was a significant tactical and propaganda victory for Israel (Middle East Monitor, August 19). The operation both eliminated the leader of a hostile terrorist group aligned with the Iranian regime and demonstrated Israel’s ability to penetrate Iran during a major international political event—in this case, the inauguration of President Massoud Pezeshkian (see Terrorism Monitor, July 31). [1] The assassination was a clear statement that Israel could target any leader of the Islamic Republic at will.

Netanyahu’s Short-Term Concerns

The operation should be seen first in the context of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s immediate concerns. Netanyahu is under intense pressure from various quarters. Domestically, moderate opposition figures have been pushing to oust Netanyahu and reverse his government’s judicial reforms (Al Jazeera, November 16, 2023; Anadolu Agency, August 28). Internationally, the Arab world, some Western countries, international organizations, as well as Russia and China are all pressuring Israel to end the war in Gaza—and in some cases, to recognize a Palestinian state (New York Times, May 31; Amnesty International, February 20; Moscow Times, November 6, 2023; Egypt Today, May 30). During Netanyahu’s recent trip to Washington, American leaders urged him to try to reach a ceasefire with Hamas before all of his conditions were met (AP News, July 25). Israel’s failure so far to achieve its primary objective in the war—eliminating the threat of the Islamist terrorists backed by both the Iranian regime and the Muslim Brotherhood—further compounds these pressures.

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