Hamas vows a catastrophic retaliation if Israel attacks any of its leaders -

Tel Aviv: Yahya Sinwar, the chief of the military wing of Hamas has issued an inciting statement. He provoked the Palestinian people by saying, ‘If you have a gun, then on any given opportunity you must attack Israel, else use a knife or dagger, but you must attack Israel.’ He has issued such provoking statements in the past as well. Therefore, the terrorist attacks in Israel are on the rise. Israel has issued signals that there is no other option for them other than eliminating Sinwar. However, Hamas has threatened that if any of its leaders, especially Sinwar, is attacked, they would retaliate with numerous missiles on Israeli cities, followed by suicide attacks.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesman of the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, issued this threat during an interview with the Hamas linked Al-Mayadeen television. Ubaida threatened ‘Israel is speaking the language of targeting our leaders. But if our leader Yahya Sinwar is attacked, then there will be a retaliation beyond Israeli imagination. Israeli cities Tel Aviv, Gush Dan, will be attacked with rockets and missiles and a dangerous spate of suicide attacks will be launched’. Ubaida added that unending destruction and bloodshed would start in Israel.

These threats from Hamas are not new to Israel. The Israeli media has ridiculed Hamas’ threats. The Israeli media is urging Hamas to recollect that they had to plead for a ceasefire during the conflict in May last year. At the same time, since its independence, Israel has been conducting covert operations to track and eliminate leaders of terrorist organizations which have been a threat to Israel. The Israeli media is pointing out that threats from Hamas will not change Israel’s policy.

Therefore, if decided, Israel will conduct an operation to eliminate Yahya Sinwar, regardless of threats and counterattacks from Hamas. Yahya Sinwar is consistently calling for attacks on Israelis and has been publicly praising those responsible for the terrorist activities in Israel. As a result, Sinwar is under Israeli surveillance. With this concern in mind, Hamas leaders appear to be threatening Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israeli conflict with Hamas is not just a local issue. The conflict is connected to the politics of the Gulf-Persian region. Some Arab countries have established cooperation with Israel through the Abraham Pact. Iran has accused Israel has gained the strength to act against the Palestinians with the Abraham agreement. Israel’s fresh conflict with Hamas could add to pressure on the Gulf states, especially after the claims of the Israeli president secretly visiting Saudi Arabia. Iran has accused that the Israeli crackdown on Hamas amounts to the oppression of the Palestinians. Therefore, Iran could be successful in their ploy of putting pressure on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states who are willing to cooperate with Israel openly.

This will require Israel to consider the political implications of targeting Hamas leaders this time around. However, Israel has consistently pursued a policy of not compromising the security front. Therefore, there is a possibility that the news of Israel’s attack on Sinwar will hit the media at any moment.