Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader led prayers over the coffin of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas assassinated in Tehran this week, as the Israeli military heightened its alert over potential retaliatory attacks. <\/p>\n
Iranian state TV showed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leading the start of the funeral procession before Haniyeh\u2019s coffin was driven into the city center, through crowds waving Palestinian flags while some onlookers called for revenge. Iran and Hamas say he was killed by Israel, which hasn\u2019t issued a denial and has vowed to kill all Hamas leaders since the group\u2019s attack on the country on Oct. 7.<\/p>\n
In Beirut, a similar procession was due to be held for a high-ranking member of Hezbollah, Fuad Shukr, who was killed in the Lebanese capital by an Israeli missile on Tuesday, just hours before Haniyeh\u2019s death. Israel took responsibility for that one, saying it was in response to the killing of a dozen youths playing soccer in the Golan Heights on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Pledges to respond \u2014 from Hamas, Hezbollah and their sponsor, Iran \u2014 for the pair of assassinations have rung out across the region, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go on TV late Wednesday to say the country is \u201cprepared for any scenario and will stand, united and resolved, against any threat.\u201d <\/p>\n
With Israel\u2019s air defense systems on high alert, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that \u201cif Israel is attacked, yes we will help Israel defend itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Khamenei had earlier said Iran has a \u201cduty to seek vengeance\u201d for Haniyeh\u2019s death and Israel should expect a \u201csevere punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Full-Blown War<\/p>\n
The U.S., a key Israeli ally, is striving to prevent the situation escalating into a full-blown war across the Middle East. The Biden administration used intermediaries to send warnings to Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis of Yemen not to escalate, according to people familiar with US policy. The U.S. also counseled Israel on the need for caution in its next steps, the people said. <\/p>\n
Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed other world leaders in warning of the heightened risk to the region of the developing hostilities, which began in October with the invasion of Israel by Hamas militants that triggered the ongoing and brutal 10-month war in Gaza.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, the path that the region is on is toward more conflict,\u201d Blinken said in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. \u201cIt\u2019s urgent that all parties make the right choices in the days ahead because those choices are the difference between staying on this path of violence, of insecurity, of suffering, or moving to something very different and much better.\u201d<\/p>\n
The U.S. and others have been striving for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas for months without success, and Blinken said a deal remains the best way forward. A truce would likely see the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and allow for much-needed aid to be delivered into Gaza.<\/p>\n
Thursday marks the 300th day of the war between Israel and Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union. Fighting continues unabated, with Israeli\u2019s military reporting the striking of loaded launchers aimed at the country. On Wednesday, Israeli warplanes killed two journalists working for Al Jazeera, the Qatari-owned network. <\/p>\n
Within Israel a debate has arisen over the wisdom of assassinations, which the military said now includes Mohammed Deif, Hamas\u2019s second in command, in a strike in Gaza last month. Some back the government\u2019s argument that they\u2019re an effective tool to deter and weaken groups like Hamas and Hezbollah and lead them to soften their negotiating positions.<\/p>\n
Writing in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, commentator Avi Issacharoff praised the killings and said, \u201cThe Palestinian public that celebrated Oct. 7 and the \u2018victory\u2019 over Israel has now come to see that Hamas too is vulnerable and fragile. That can\u2019t be hidden any longer; they can\u2019t bask in their victory over Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Michael Milshtein, a former intelligence officer who heads Palestinian studies at Tel Aviv University\u2019s Dayan Center, said in a radio interview that even though the killing of Haniyeh is an important symbolic act, the key player in Hamas remains Yahya Sinwar, believed to be somewhere in Gaza and who, he says, is far more radical than Haniyeh and may be emboldened without his influence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incorrect to say that Hamas doesn\u2019t want a deal \u2014 but on its terms,\u201d Milshstein said. \u201cThe \u2018increased pressure\u2019 doesn\u2019t lead to softening of positions by Hamas. And we have to understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014With assistance from Daniel Flatley.<\/p>\n
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