Joyful possibilities
In the midst of political exuberance in the US as the Harris-Walz campaign gains momentum, much of the world is bracing for an escalation in the ongoing war in the middle east. The possibility of a cease fire in Gaza has been greatly diminished by the recent killings of top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah by the Israeli government.
Ismael Haniyeh, the chief negotiator of Hamas for a cease fire was killed while in Tehran attending festivities surrounding the presidential inauguration of Masoud Pezeshkian. Just hours after his murder, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued an order to strike Israel in retaliation.
With mounting devastation in Gaza, Iran has encouraged restraint. In April, after the Israeli government attacked the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria and killed several top Iranian military leaders, the Iranian government responded with a series of missile and drone attacks against Israel. These attacks were widely telegraphed beforehand and were considered a “restrained” response, rather than one designed to increase regional tensions.
But the killing of Mr. Haniyeh on Iranian soil has provoked a deep-seated fury. In his public statement about the killing, Mr. Khamenei said, “We see avenging his blood our duty.” He said Israel had set the stage for receiving “a severe punishment.”
Hamas moved to appoint Yahya Sinwar, a top architect of the October 7th attack, as its new leader. Mr. Sinwar is the top official in Gaza and his selection emphasizes the central role of the Palestinian Liberation struggles in the unfolding events in the region.
Hezbollah welcomed Sinwar’s appointment, calling it a strong message to Israel and the United States, and showing that Hamas is united in its decision-making.
“Selecting the brother Yahya Sinwar from the heart of the besieged Gaza Strip – who is present the frontlines with resistance fighters and between the children of his people, under the rubble, blockade, killings and starvation – reasserts that the goals the enemy is seeking by killing leaders have failed,” the group said in a statement.
Hours before the attack on Mr. Haniyeh, the Israeli government killed Fuad Shukr, the top military commander of Hezbollah in a southern suburb of Beirut. At least five other civilians were killed in that attack.
"The resistance cannot but respond. This is definite," said Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. In a televised address to mark the funeral of the slain commander, he said, "We are looking for a real response, not a performative response, and for real opportunities. A studied response. There is no discussion on this point.” He emphasized
"There will be no solution except via stopping the aggression on Gaza."
These killings of top leaders are nothing new. For more than 40 years, the Israeli government has employed the tactic of assassinating people, in the hope of destroying Palestinian resistance. But this tactic has never worked. A new leader always emerges.
And this is the heart of the issue. The impulse for liberation, for self-determination, and for dignity is not dependent on leaders. It comes from the heart, lives, and longings of people. Our passion for lives of joy and meaning cannot be eradicated.
With each bomb and bullet the US and Israel are creating conditions that encourage people to respond to violence with more violence. Vengeance and retribution create a downward spiral of death and destruction.
If we are to find our way to better world, where joy is not only the relief felt for a short, political campaign, but for possibilities of living together with a sense of justice and care, we need to shift away from a society based on military might to one of mutual respect. The urgency to do so has never been greater.