Israel eliminates top Hamas minister as tensions with Iran rise
Israel Defence Forces reported the elimination of a Hamas minister in the Gaza Strip. Abed Al-Zeriei was responsible for the Ministry of Economy. Tel Aviv claimed that Al-Zeriei "prevented humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in Gaza."
According to the IDF, Al-Zeriei was in charge of the production department of Hamas' military wing and was the Minister of Economy for Hamas in Gaza.
"He played a significant role in directing Hamas' efforts to take control of the humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza and in managing the markets controlled by Hamas. Additionally, he was responsible for the distribution of fuel, gas, and funds for terrorist purposes," the statement read.
The world's eyes on Iran
This is the latest terrorist eliminated by Israel. Last week, the main military commander of Hezbollah, Fauda Shukr, was killed. Subsequently, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh died.
- This is Israel's biggest success in many years. The attack on Ismail Haniyeh and the resulting humiliation of the Iranians is an incredible feat - commented veteran Middle East correspondent Jarosław Kociszewski in an interview with WP.
To this day, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being responsible for the attack in Tehran.
- Iran does not want escalation in the region but must "punish" Israel to prevent further destabilisation - said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Naser Kanaani during a Monday press conference in Tehran.
Is Iran trying to avoid open war?
Kanaani emphasised that "punishing" Israel for the attack in which Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran last week is "necessary," Reuters reported. Iran supports and finances the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas, as well as other anti-Israel armed groups.
- Strengthening stability and security in the region will be achieved by punishing the aggressor and creating deterrents against Israel and its adventurism - Kanaani said.
These comments, as assessed by Bloomberg, may signal that Iran is trying to avoid open war with Israel while still responding to the attack, which Tehran blamed on Israeli forces.
Kanaani also called on the United States to stop supporting Israel, saying that the international community had not fulfilled its duty to protect stability in the Middle East and should support "punishment for the aggressor."
