Hamas has decided to freeze all negotiations with mediators regarding a ceasefire in Gaza following the assassination of the movement’s deputy political bureau chief, Saleh al-Arouri, in an Israeli airstrike on the Msharafieh area in southern Beirut yesterday.
Palestinian sources reported that Hamas informed mediators of its decision to suspend all discussions regarding a Gaza ceasefire or a prisoner exchange deal with Israel. Qatar and Egypt had previously played a mediating role between Israel and Hamas, leading to an agreement that resulted in a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange between the two parties.
Israel, in response to the assassination of al-Arouri, declared a state of security alert and heightened readiness. Israeli media outlets reported that the Israeli army announced the elevation of readiness along the Lebanon border following the assassination, expressing concerns about a potential response from Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Reza Agha, commented on the assassination of Hamas’s deputy political bureau chief, stating, “We will undoubtedly see unity against American policies following these actions in the region, and these strategic mistakes will escalate the situation in the region and have repercussions on the Americans who disrupted regional balance.”
Agha also mentioned the presence of the Iranian destroyer “Alborz” in the Red Sea, asserting, “Our presence in all waters ensures security, and we place no restrictions on ourselves. We monitor all developments, especially in this sensitive region.”
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) expressed deep concern over any potential escalation with devastating consequences following the assassination of al-Arouri. According to the Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his visit to Israel, initially scheduled from Thursday to next Monday, in light of al-Arouri’s assassination.
