“Why weren’t you notified before this attack?”
Hamas leader questioned during visit to Iran
This “Confirmation of Hamas Headquarters in Al Shifa Hospital”
Discussed release of 50 hostages under conditions for cessation of fighting
The British Telegraph and other newspapers reported on the 15th that Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, a theocratic country, told Ismail Haniya, the political leader of the Palestinian armed group Hamas, who recently visited Iran, that he would “not participate in the war between Israel and Hamas.” Iran, which has been providing direct and indirect support to Hamas through funds, weapons, and training of its personnel, is attracting great attention because it has officially announced its intention not to participate in the war for the first time since the outbreak of the war on the 7th of last month.
If Iran does not participate, the risk of the war between Israel and Hamas spreading into a war throughout the Middle East will likely decrease. There is also a high possibility that Hamas, which has already suffered a significant blow due to Israel’s deployment of ground troops in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, its base, will be sharply weakened. Analysis suggests that Iran has chosen not to be drawn into a direct confrontation with the United States, even if it means risking the weakening of Hamas, which is at the forefront of anti-Israel and anti-American forces in the Middle East.
According to the Telegraph, Khamenei recently visited Tehran, the capital of Iran, and met with Haniya, questioning her about the fact that there was no advance notice given to Iran when it launched a surprise attack on Israel last month and started a war. He also made it clear that Iran had no intention of entering the war.
Reuters reported that Khamenei pressured Haniya to prevent calls from within Hamas that not only Iran but also Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group supported by Iran, should assist Hamas in the full-scale war. Hezbollah also appeared to be completely unaware of the outbreak of war. A Hezbollah commander told The Telegraph, “I woke up to find a war had broken out,” revealing that Hamas had not given them prior notice.
However, Khamenei reportedly expressed his intention to continue helping Hamas in any way. It also includes attacks on major facilities related to the United States and Israel in the Middle East through Hezbollah and others using rockets, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), etc.
The New York Times recently quoted three Iranian government officials and reported, “Iran does not want a regional war that carries risks to the government and religious leaders.” Nasser Imani, an analyst familiar with the Iranian government, also said, “There is no need for Iran to directly intervene in the war because there is an ‘axis of resistance’ that follows Iran’s policies and strategies and acts on Iran’s behalf.”
However, the NYT analyzed that Iranian leaders are in a ‘dilemma’ where they must continue to make gestures as if they will do something because they risk losing the trust of the people and Arab allies if they do not respond even after seeing Hamas attacked by Israel. Because the United States is aware of Iran’s dilemma, it has continuously sent signals that it does not want war with Iran.
The Israeli military, which raided Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical institution in the Gaza Strip, around 2 a.m. on the 15th, said in a statement, “We found a room used as a Hamas operational command center in a building within the hospital premises.” The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) imaging center also released a related video, saying that a computer containing operational information, an AK rifle, ammunition, and grenades were discovered.
Weapons found at Al Shifa Hospital A photo released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on the 15th, claiming to be a Hamas operation headquarters found at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Palestine. The IDF claimed, “This is evidence that Hamas used this hospital for terrorism.” Provided by the Israel Defense ForcesThis is interpreted as a response to the constant criticism from the international community, including in the Arab world, that “the number of Palestinian civilian casualties has increased rapidly due to Israel’s attacks on private medical facilities.” U.S. President Joe Biden also confirmed that “there are Hamas facilities in the hospital,” but Hamas denied it, calling it “false incitement.”
Controversy over the related video released by the Israeli military still remains. This is because, contrary to the original claim that it was ‘uncut and unedited’, some of the screens were mosaiced and then re-released.
Despite the two sides’ battle, negotiations to release Israeli civilian hostages held by Hamas and conclude a temporary ceasefire are accelerating. NYT and other sources reported that the two sides are discussing a plan for Hamas to release 50 hostages on the condition that fighting ceases for three days.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.