Ismail Haniyeh was Hamas’s chief negotiator in the Hamas ceasefire talks in Gaza. His liquidation threatens to further stall the already difficult talks. “How can mediation succeed if one side kills the other’s negotiator?” Qatari Prime Minister Al-Thani said in X.
According to Egypt, the removal of Haniyeh has shown that Israel does not have the political will to de-escalate the war in Gaza. Talks on a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages were held in Rome on Sunday between Qatar, Egypt, the United States and Israel. Hamas is not sitting at the table, but is in close contact with Qatar and Egypt.
About the Author
Peter Giesen is foreign editor of of Volkskrant and writes about the EU and international cooperation. He was previously a correspondent in France.
Negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages are extremely difficult. Initially, these were complicated primarily by Hamas’s demand that Israel permanently withdraw from the Gaza Strip. For Israel, this was contrary to its war goal: ending Hamas rule in Gaza. Israel was willing to accept a temporary truce.
A senior Egyptian official told the AP news agency that Haniyeh’s killing was a “reckless act.” According to the Reuters news agency, sources within Hamas say any chance of a quick deal has been lost.
Not all analysts are so pessimistic, however. When the dust settles, Haniyeh’s spectacular elimination could also provide the Israeli government with a “winner’s narrative” that creates political space for a deal with Hamas, Mairav Zonszein, an Israeli-American analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, told X.
Tough negotiations
In recent weeks, Hamas has shown itself willing to make concessions, those involved in the negotiations say. He New York Times, he Financial Times and Haaretz. However, then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made new demands, especially regarding the presence of Israeli troops in Gaza during the truce. Netanyahu is under intense pressure from his radical right-wing coalition partners, who threaten to collapse the government if he reaches a deal with Hamas.
There was, however, some optimism about a ceasefire last weekend. An agreement was reached that provided for a six-week truce. A longer ceasefire could be negotiated during that period. “We believe a deal can be reached,” said a senior US official. Financial times.
Hostages
Due to Haniyeh’s liquidation, the agreement seems to have disappeared for the moment. Haaretz Relatives of the hostages are criticising the government’s policies. ‘Haniyeh could have been killed 15 years ago. Why was he killed now, with a deal on the table?’ said Sharon Lifshitz, daughter of a hostage.
Israel has a long tradition of liquidating its opponents. During this Gaza war alone, six such attacks have been carried out. Earlier this month, Israel attempted to eliminate Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif; his fate is unknown. The attacks satisfy the need for retaliation.
“While some see the assassination of the Hamas terrorist leader as an escalation, in reality his death is only a small form of justice for the crimes of October 7,” the right-wing Israeli newspaper wrote. Jerusalem Post Wednesday. According to the paper, Hamas and the Iran-backed “terrorist axis” (Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other militant groups) have suffered a “serious blow.”
The attacks send a strong message to Israel’s enemies: wherever you are, sooner or later we will get you. But from a strategic point of view, liquidations were never effective. No matter how many terrorist leaders Israel eliminated, new ones always emerged. That is why the international community is pushing for a political solution. As long as no prospect is offered to the Palestinians, the message is that violence will keep returning.
Allies
But Haniyeh’s removal shows how limited the influence of Israel’s allies, led by the United States, has become. The Biden administration has all but disappeared and has never shown itself willing to exert serious pressure on Israel. Last weekend, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken advocated de-escalation and a ceasefire as the best way to reduce tensions in the region.
On Wednesday, Israel responded with an attack that defied Iran and seemed to only reduce the chances of a ceasefire.
