People take part in a protest against the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in the West Bank city of Hebron, on July 31, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

The Palestinian political group Hamas called for prayers for its political chief Ismail Haniyeh and declared a "day of furious rage" on Friday over his killing and the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Analysts said that the assassination of Haniyeh has dimmed hopes for a potential cease-fire in Gaza, and with the conflict between Hamas and Israel now expanding to involve Iran, more players may be drawn into the clashes, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Hamas encouraged "roaring anger marches... from every mosque" following Friday prayers to protest Haniyeh's killing as well as the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Haniyeh was buried on Friday at a cemetery in Lusail, north Doha, according to media reports. 

More details of Haniyeh's assassination have been unveiled in recent days, including that he was killed by an explosive device that was secretly smuggled into his guesthouse in June in Tehran, Iran, and not by an airstrike. The bomb used cutting-edge remote technology and had been used in the killing of Iran nuclear chief Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, according to the Jerusalem Post. 

The Iranian government and Hamas accused Israel of carrying out the assassination. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement. 

By further dragging Iran into the conflict, Israel aims to pull the US into the geopolitical clashes in the region, thereby maintaining American engagement in the Middle East and preventing it from shifting its strategic focus to other areas, said Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University.

Sun noted that the killing of Haniyeh will lead to strong retaliation from Iran, which will also compel the US to reiterate its support for Israel, giving it assistance in defending against drone or missile strikes from Iran and other anti-Israel militant groups.

Top Iranian officials reportedly met the representatives of Iran's regional allies from Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen on Thursday to discuss potential retaliation against Israel.

Sun said Iran's possible retaliation may include dismantling Israeli and US intelligence networks within its territory and cooperating with other groups, including Hezbollah and Houthis, to launch strikes targeting Israel. 

US President Joe Biden had a phone talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, reaffirming his commitment to Israel's security against "all threats from Iran." Biden also discussed efforts to support Israel's defense against threats, which would include "new defensive US military deployments," media reported. 

Ultimate solution

The conflict between Hamas and Israel is evolving into a direct confrontation between Iran and Israel. This escalation could lead to further spillover and expansion of tensions, potentially involving more parties, analysts said.

A cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, as well as a broader Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation, seems more difficult, Sun said. 

Just as the Middle East peace process was making significant progress, the turbulent situation has once again forced people to be wary of future risks and challenges, said Li Shaoxian, director of the China Institute for Arab Studies at Ningxia University. 

High-level representatives from 14 Palestinian factions held a reconciliation dialogue in late July at the invitation of China and signed the Beijing Declaration on ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity. 

Sun remarked that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East essentially remains a traditional security contest, attempting to achieve peace through force. However, this approach will not yield true winners. If this path continues, every country in the Middle East will feel uneasy, and eventually, all participants will become losers. In contrast, China's stance is clearly more forward-looking. Ultimately, the key to solving the problem lies in returning to the approach advocated by China, which emphasizes replacing confrontation and conflict with peaceful negotiations. The principles and methods embodied in the Beijing Declaration will be further validated and recognized over time, said Sun.