Arouri’s loss of life is a “massive loss” for Hamas, Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli hostage negotiator, advised the Telegraph, including: “That is particularly as a result of he was immediately answerable for terrorist actions from the West Financial institution.”
Israel didn’t formally affirm that it was behind the assault, which struck an space of the Lebanese capital dominated by the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah, a key ally of Hamas.
Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, stated Israel’s army was at a “very excessive stage of readiness” for any retaliation.
Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas, stated the assassination was a “terrorist act”, a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and an enlargement of Israel’s hostility in opposition to Palestinians.
“All these assassinations and assaults will make us stronger and extra decided than ever. That is the historical past of the resistance and our motion. We all the time develop into stronger and extra decided,” he stated in a televised speech.
Samir Fendi and Azzam al-Aqra have been the 2 senior commanders additionally killed within the strike, he stated.
In a press release by its overseas ministry, Iran, which funds both Hezbollah and Hamas, stated Arourii’s loss of life would “additional ignite resistance in opposition to Israel”.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who’ve prompted large disruption to world transport through the Purple Sea, expressed condolences over the killing.
In Ramallah, within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, tons of took to the streets to induce retaliation, shouting: “Revenge, revenge, Qassam”.
Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, declined an invite for Israel to disclaim duty for the drone strike, however didn’t condemn it both.
He advised the broadcaster MSNBC: “Whoever did it should be clear that this was not an assault on the Lebanese state. Whoever did this did a surgical strike in opposition to the Hamas management.”