The killing of Hamas political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in an airstrike is likely to mean ceasefire negotiations in Gaza will be put on hold.
Haniyeh, who was in Tehran, Iran, to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian, was a key player in the peace talks. It’s not clear how or when the peace talks, which were already fraught with major challenges and tensions, will be able to resume.
Though Israel has made no comment, numerous countries, including Iran and Turkey blamed Israel directly, while Russia and Qatar condemned the attack. Middle East experts immediately voiced fears that the conflict could escalate and become a larger regional conflict.
