N※N

Show Politics and Government Publications

Assassination of Hamas Leader Sparks Fears of Wider Middle East War

The Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and the Escalation Toward World War

The recent assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Tehran marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, one that carries profound implications for global stability. This act, widely attributed to Israel with the backing of the United States, is not merely an isolated incident but a calculated move within a broader strategy of imperialist aggression. It underscores the reckless drive toward a wider regional war that could engulf major powers and precipitate a third world war. The event unfolded on July 31, 2024, when Haniyeh was killed in an airstrike on his residence in the Iranian capital, shortly after attending the inauguration of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. This timing was no coincidence; it was a deliberate provocation aimed at Iran, signaling Israel's willingness to expand the theater of conflict beyond Gaza and Lebanon.

Haniyeh's death comes amid Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has already resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has framed its actions as a necessary response to the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. However, the assassination reveals a deeper agenda: the consolidation of Zionist expansionism and the suppression of Palestinian resistance through terror and annihilation. Critics argue that this is part of a genocidal policy, with Israel systematically targeting not only militants but also civilians, journalists, and political figures. The strike in Tehran violates Iranian sovereignty and international law, yet it has been met with muted condemnation from Western powers, highlighting the hypocrisy of the so-called "rules-based international order."

The United States' role in this affair cannot be overstated. Washington has provided Israel with billions in military aid, advanced weaponry, and diplomatic cover, enabling such operations. President Joe Biden's administration has repeatedly affirmed its "ironclad" support for Israel, even as evidence mounts of war crimes in Gaza. This support is rooted in America's imperialist interests: maintaining dominance in the oil-rich Middle East, countering rivals like Iran, Russia, and China, and suppressing any challenge to its global hegemony. The assassination of Haniyeh is seen as a green light from the US, possibly coordinated through intelligence sharing, and it aligns with a pattern of extrajudicial killings that have become a hallmark of American foreign policy, from drone strikes in Yemen and Somalia to the targeted killings of Iranian figures like General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

Iran's response has been measured but firm, with officials vowing retaliation while emphasizing the need to avoid a full-scale war. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the act as a "crime" that would not go unanswered, raising fears of direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group allied with Iran, has also signaled its readiness to escalate, following the recent killing of one of its top commanders in Beirut. These developments threaten to draw in multiple actors: Syria, Yemen's Houthis, and potentially even Turkey and Egypt, creating a powder keg that could explode into a regional conflagration.

From a broader perspective, this incident is symptomatic of the crisis of global capitalism. The ruling classes, facing economic stagnation, rising inequality, and domestic unrest, are turning to militarism and war as a means of deflection and control. In the US, both Democrats and Republicans are united in their support for Israel, using the conflict to justify massive military spending and the erosion of democratic rights at home. The Biden administration's policies echo those of its predecessors, perpetuating endless wars that serve the interests of the military-industrial complex and energy corporations. Meanwhile, the European powers, including Britain, France, and Germany, have aligned themselves with this agenda, supplying arms to Israel and suppressing pro-Palestinian protests under the guise of combating anti-Semitism.

The media's role in this narrative is equally insidious. Mainstream outlets in the West have downplayed the assassination's provocative nature, often portraying Haniyeh solely as a "terrorist" without context. This framing obscures the historical roots of the conflict: the dispossession of Palestinians since 1948, the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and the apartheid-like conditions enforced by Israel. Alternative voices, including those from the international left, argue that true peace requires the dismantling of Zionism as an ideology of ethnic supremacy and the establishment of a secular, democratic state where Jews and Arabs can coexist equally.

Moreover, the assassination heightens the risk of nuclear escalation. Israel possesses an undeclared nuclear arsenal, while Iran is accused of pursuing nuclear capabilities, though it denies weaponization. A direct Israel-Iran war could involve nuclear threats, pulling in the US and its NATO allies against Iran and its partners. Russia, already embroiled in Ukraine, has condemned the killing and strengthened ties with Tehran, providing military support that could internationalize the conflict. China, too, has expressed concern, viewing the Middle East instability as a threat to its Belt and Road Initiative and energy supplies.

The working class internationally must recognize this as part of a global class war. The same forces driving the genocide in Gaza are those imposing austerity, attacking workers' rights, and fueling inflation worldwide. In the US, the upcoming elections offer no alternative: both Biden (or his successor) and Trump represent factions of the ruling elite committed to war and repression. The only way forward is through the building of an independent, socialist movement that unites workers across borders against imperialism.

Protests against the Gaza war have erupted globally, from university campuses in the US to streets in Europe and the Middle East. These movements, while significant, often remain trapped within the framework of bourgeois nationalism or reformism. A genuine anti-war movement must link the struggle against Zionism and imperialism to the fight against capitalism itself. This requires exposing the role of pseudo-left organizations that channel discontent into support for the Democratic Party or other establishment forces.

Historically, such assassinations have preceded major wars. The killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 sparked World War I, while targeted killings in the lead-up to World War II escalated tensions. Today, with advanced weaponry and interconnected alliances, the stakes are infinitely higher. The Haniyeh assassination could be the spark that ignites a conflict dwarfing previous wars, potentially involving cyber warfare, hypersonic missiles, and even space-based assets.

In Gaza, the human toll continues unabated. Over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with infrastructure devastated and famine looming. Israel's blockade and bombings have created a humanitarian catastrophe, yet international aid efforts are hampered by political maneuvering. The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to halt its offensive, but compliance is nonexistent, underscoring the impotence of institutions like the UN in the face of great power interests.

Iran's position is precarious. Facing internal economic pressures and protests, the regime may use this incident to rally domestic support, but escalation risks devastating sanctions and military strikes. For Israel, Netanyahu's government, mired in corruption scandals and facing public dissent, may see war as a means to cling to power, much like how the Gaza offensive has temporarily unified the fractured Israeli polity.

The global left must advocate for the Palestinian cause not through nationalism but internationalism. This means supporting the right of return for refugees, ending the occupation, and challenging the capitalist system that breeds such conflicts. Workers in the arms industry, ports, and logistics should refuse to handle shipments to Israel, building solidarity strikes that paralyze the war machine.

Ultimately, the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh is a warning: the capitalist crisis is propelling humanity toward catastrophe. Only a revolutionary movement, grounded in Marxist principles, can avert this by overthrowing the profit system and establishing a planned, socialist economy. The alternative is barbarism on a scale unimaginable, with the Middle East as the flashpoint for world war.

This analysis draws on the urgent need for vigilance and action. As tensions mount, the international working class must mobilize against imperialism, rejecting the lies of the ruling elites and forging a path to genuine peace through socialism. The events in Tehran are not isolated; they are interconnected with struggles everywhere, from Ukraine to Taiwan, forming a chain that could lead to global conflagration unless broken by conscious, unified resistance. (Word count: 1,248)

Read the Full World Socialist Web Site Article at:
[ https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/08/01/aowf-a01.html ]