The Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated on Wednesday evening that his country will work to eliminate Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Meshaal, emphasizing that their deaths will not be natural.
Cohen declared to the Israeli Channel 13, “We will work to eliminate Meshaal and Haniyeh; their deaths will not be natural.”
Haniyeh is the head of the political bureau of “Hamas,” while Meshaal is the head of the movement abroad.
In a separate context, Cohen mentioned that “it is a mistake to replace the foreign minister during the war.”
The Israeli channel pointed out that there is talk of replacing him with Energy Minister Yisrael Katz, with Cohen in return taking over the energy portfolio.
Cohen said, “The responsibility lies with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not spoken to me about this issue. If the Prime Minister asks me to do so, I will.”
Cohen claimed that he did not ask Netanyahu to keep him in his position, which he has held since the government was formed at the end of last year.
Since October 7, the Israeli army has been waging a devastating war on Gaza, which had left 26,000 dead and missing by Wednesday evening – most of them children and women – and caused tremendous destruction to infrastructure and an “unprecedented humanitarian disaster.”
It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation has compiled a list of Hamas leaders it aims to assassinate by any means, to show the world an alleged victory after its failure in the ground war on the Gaza Strip, where it brutally targeted civilians.
The recent Gaza war has been marked by intense conflict and significant humanitarian concerns. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials, primarily focusing on developments in the war with Israel in the Gaza Strip. This indicates a move towards diplomatic engagement amid the ongoing conflict.
The situation in Gaza has been described as increasingly dire, with reports indicating that the region is becoming unlivable due to the ongoing fighting. This has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, with many Palestinians trapped in overcrowded and unprotected shelters. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has expressed grave concerns about the living conditions, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The conflict has resulted in a high death toll, with reports stating that around 20,000 people have been killed as the fighting continues. The United Nations Security Council has been involved in efforts to find a resolution, although progress has been slow. The situation remains volatile, with continued hostilities around the Gaza Strip.