By Desmond Nleya
Dubai: Following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh in Iran on Tuesday, regional tensions have heightened with no hope of cease fire in the Gaza-Israel war with the UN Security Council holding an emergency meeting.
“The international community has a choice to make – let it be for peace and security, do not let Israel drag us all to the abyss,” Feda Abdelhady Nasser, Palestine’s deputy UN representative, told the council.
The funeral for assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard was held in Tehran, with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leading the prayers.
Iranian ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the Security Council that the assassination of Haniyeh suggests Israel’s intention is to expand the war on Gaza to the entire region.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and camera operator Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza.
At least 39,445 people have been killed and 91,073 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 and more than 200 were taken captive.
With Inputs from Aljazeera
