Israel killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh Al-Aroui in a drone strike in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday, according to Lebanese and Palestinian security sources, raising the risk of the Gaza war spreading beyond the Palestinian territories.
Death of Hamas Leader in Lebanon
Al-Aroui, 57, is the first senior political leader in Hamas to be targeted since Israel launched a devastating air and ground attack on the group nearly three months ago following its sudden and violent assault on Israeli towns.
Escalating Tensions Between Lebanon and Israel
The heavily armed Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, has been exchanging fire with Israel across Lebanon’s southern border since the Gaza war began in October.
Hezbollah’s Warning
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel against carrying out any assassination operations on Lebanese soil, pledging a “severe response”.
Escalation of Attacks
Hezbollah announced on Tuesday that it targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the Marj area with rockets, in response to Al-Aroui’s killing.
Al-Aroui’s Role in Negotiations
Israel has long accused Al-Aroui of carrying out lethal attacks on its citizens, but a Hamas official stated he was “at the heart of the negotiations” conducted by Qatar and Egypt regarding the outcomes of the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Israeli Preparedness
Israel neither confirmed nor denied the assassination, but an Israeli military spokesperson stated that Israeli forces are on high alert and ready for any scenario.
Impact of the Killing
The killing of Al-Aroui may escalate the conflict in the region, as the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has vowed to continue its attacks on ships in the Red Sea until the conflict in Gaza ceases, warning that it will target American warships if the militia itself is attacked.
The Gaza War
The war in Gaza erupted following a surprise Hamas attack on Israeli towns on October 7, with Israel stating that it killed 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages back to Gaza.
Targeting Al-Shifa Hospital
Israel’s targeting of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza last November raised global concerns regarding the fate of civilians and patients inside.
Hamas’ Response to Ceasefire Proposal
Before Al-Aroui’s killing, Hamas’s top leader Ismail Haniyeh, who is also outside Gaza, stated that the movement had provided its responses to the Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal.
Controversial Statements
The U.S. State Department criticized statements by Israeli government ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir that called for the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza, describing them as “provocative and irresponsible”.
Leave a Reply