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Derailing peace

Monday, Aug 05, 2024

The recent death of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has had a tremendous ripple effect across the Middle East, worsening an already combustible situation. Although Israel has not formally claimed credit, it is largely thought to be behind the strike. Haniyeh’s death is a significant blow to Hamas and may cause difficulties in its leadership and strategic plans. Hezbollah and Iran have promised retaliation, raising the prospect of a larger regional battle.

The Israeli Defense Forces are on high alert and there are reports about more US military deployments to Israel to help defend against potential threats from Iran. The exact consequences of this assassination have yet to be determined but it is evident that the situation has become much more complex and hazardous. This emphasizes the fragile status of Middle Eastern peace attempts as well as the constant threat of escalation into larger violence.

Amna Jamshaid

Bahawalpur