Israel-Hamas War|Death of Ismail Haniya

Analysis: Could turn Gaza negotiations upside down

The deadly attack on Hamas political leader Ismail Haniya is very embarrassing for Iran. That's what Samer Al-Atrush, Middle East correspondent for The Times, writes in an analysis.

But being killed by Israel is a risk Hamastoppar lives with and not something Iran wants to go to war over, says Al-Atrush. On the other hand, it could turn the cease-fire negotiations in Gaza upside down.

Sky News' Nicole Johnston writes in an analysis that Haniya's death is a heavy blow to the terrorist group. In addition to the regional consequences, Hamas is forced into a shift in power. However, this is something the group can adapt to. Haniya is not the first Hamas leader to be killed and the organization allows smooth transitions of power.

Slow pace in the negotiations on a ceasefire is to be expected, writes DN's Nathan Shachar. But the real reason is not yesterday's attack on Hezbollah general Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and last night's attack on Hamas leader Ismail Haniya in Tehran, notes Shachar.

The real reason is that Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar's dream is now about to come true: the region is set on fire and Israel and the entire Iran-led alliance are at war. 

Israel has not admitted to killing Haniya.

....................................

Israel shared picture of Ismail Haniya as "eliminated" - Iran promises revenge

The Israeli government's media staff on Wednesday shared a picture of Hamas' top political leader Ismail Haniya with the text "eliminated" on Facebook.

The publication can be seen as the clearest confirmation yet that the country is behind the deadly attack on Haniya. The sharing of the image stood out as Israel does not usually comment on reports of attacks abroad. About an hour later, the post was removed, writes TT.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says in a comment that Iran has a "duty" to avenge the death of the Hamas leader.

Haniya is said to have been killed in a nighttime attack in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The details are still unclear, but according to initial information, the Hamas leader and his bodyguard must have died when a robot hit the house they lived in, reports the BBC.

The attack follows an Israeli pattern and is similar to the attack on the Natanz nuclear facility on April 19. That time, Israeli warplanes are believed to have fired robots outside Iran's airspace.

Haniya was in the country for the installation of Iran's new president and was staying at a residence for war veterans.

.......................................

Experts: "A giant step towards regional war, a huge escalation"

The Middle East is a "very dangerous place" after Hamas' top political leader Ismail Haniya was killed in what appears to be a targeted attack in Iran. That's what Hilde Henriksen Waage at the University of Oslo says to the Norwegian Aftenposten.

- This is an absolutely huge escalation, she says.

She describes Haniya as a unifying force and one of the most central actors in the ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Now there is no end in sight to the war, she believes.

The fact that the Hamas leader has been killed brings the region closer to a full-scale war. That is what Nader Hashemi, professor of Middle Eastern studies at Georgetown University, told the BBC.

Middle East expert Alexander Atarodi is on the same line.

- This is definitely a giant step towards a major war, he tells TT.

Hamas has singled out Israel as responsible. Israel has not commented.