Just saying if Hamas assassinated the Israeli in charge of peace negotiations on foreign soil Gaza would be a plain of glass. I’d sooner believe the moon is made of cheese than think this was anything but Bibi trying to prolong his time as a free man by escalating purposely with two countries at once.
nominally, I agree that the immediate motives are Bibi’s self interest.
Strategically, this does drive a wedge between Hamas and Iran. Of the likely successors, Mashaal has had multiple conflicts with Iran, Abu Marzouk is a pragmatist who would probably start de-escalating, and al Hayya who is a hardliner. For two of those three, Hamas moves away from Iran which is probably a good thing for Israel.
Just saying if Hamas assassinated the Israeli in charge of peace negotiations on foreign soil Gaza would be a plain of glass. I’d sooner believe the moon is made of cheese than think this was anything but Bibi trying to prolong his time as a free man by escalating purposely with two countries at once.
nominally, I agree that the immediate motives are Bibi’s self interest.
Strategically, this does drive a wedge between Hamas and Iran. Of the likely successors, Mashaal has had multiple conflicts with Iran, Abu Marzouk is a pragmatist who would probably start de-escalating, and al Hayya who is a hardliner. For two of those three, Hamas moves away from Iran which is probably a good thing for Israel.
Only time will tell though