Senior Hamas official Khaled Mashaal (left) stands with Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau (assassinated in Tehran on Tuesday evening in an Israeli strike) during a press conference in the southern Gaza Strip, Dec. 7, 2012. (Credit: Suhaib Salem/AFP)
While his assassination is a significant blow to Hamas, the elimination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ politburo, in a strike attributed to Israel will not create a power vacuum within the Palestinian group, observers note.This assessment comes despite the earlier assassination on Jan. 2 of Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy head of Hamas’ political wing, in another strike attributed to Israel in the southern suburbs of Beirut.According to observers, Hamas has demonstrated remarkable resilience as a “resistance” organization. Read also: Ismail Haniyeh: Hamas’ political face “Hamas has survived the loss and assassination of many of its top leaders in the past, and it is likely to act swiftly to replace Ismail Haniyeh,” said Mehran Kamrava, a professor of public administration at Georgetown University in Qatar.“While the identity of...
While his assassination is a significant blow to Hamas, the elimination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ politburo, in a strike attributed to Israel will not create a power vacuum within the Palestinian group, observers note.This assessment comes despite the earlier assassination on Jan. 2 of Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy head of Hamas’ political wing, in another strike attributed to Israel in the southern suburbs of Beirut.According to observers, Hamas has demonstrated remarkable resilience as a “resistance” organization. Read also: Ismail Haniyeh: Hamas’ political face “Hamas has survived the loss and assassination of many of its top leaders in the past, and it is likely to act swiftly to replace Ismail Haniyeh,” said Mehran Kamrava, a professor of public administration at Georgetown University in Qatar.“While...