Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh is set to be buried today in Qatar following his assassination in Tehran, which has heightened concerns of a potential escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden has expressed unease over the situation, stating that the killing of Haniyeh has not aided efforts to secure a ceasefire deal. The escalating tensions have also raised fears of retaliation from Iran, where Haniyeh was killed.
In response to the growing unrest, Biden is considering bolstering US defenses in the Middle East to prepare for potential retaliatory actions from Iran against Israel, which could also impact American forces in the region.
Key Details:
Funeral Arrangements: Haniyeh's body arrived in Doha from Iran, with his funeral prayer scheduled to take place after Friday prayers at Qatar's national mosque, followed by burial in Lusail city.
Cross-Border Tensions: Hezbollah launched rockets towards northern Israel in retaliation for an attack in southern Beirut that claimed the life of its top commander. While Hezbollah has threatened further confrontations, it stopped short of declaring war.
Assassination of Hamas Commander: Israel's military reported the killing of Hamas' military chief Mohammed Deif in a strike in southern Gaza last month, believed to be linked to the October 7 attacks. Hamas has not issued an immediate response to the news.
Israeli Protests: Demonstrators in Tel Aviv called for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, marking 300 days since Hamas' October 7 attack. Concerns have been raised about the urgency of reaching a life-saving agreement.
Soldier's Allegations: A former Israel Defense Forces reservist, Yuval Green, has spoken out about alleged misconduct and lack of discipline within the Israeli forces during operations in Gaza. Green is among several soldiers criticizing the handling of the conflict with Hamas.
