Several Gaza-based factions and military wings are on alert for any possible escalation as a result of the U.S. killing of senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, according to local Palestinian analysts.
The analysts said these political factions and military wings in Gaza, mainly the Islamic Hamas movement and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, “are so strong,” which vowed a powerful avenge to Soleimani’s assassination.
Early on Friday, Soleimani, commander of Quds Force of Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq’s paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, were killed in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad airport, sparking outrage among some political factions and military wings in Gaza.
Hani al-Masri, director of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy Research & Strategic Studies, told Xinhua that the assassination of Soleimani and any upcoming escalation that may erupt in the region will be a hot start, leading to possible large changes in the region and in the entire world.
He suggested that all Palestinian parties should study all possible scenarios and get ready to all possibilities amid the serious regional and international concerns of a possible escalation in the region.
Ismail Haniyeh, politburo chief of Hamas said in a statement that the assassination of Soleimani “will lead to serious consequences in the region and Palestine.”
Palestinians hold posters of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, during a mourning ceremony, in Gaza City, on Jan. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Rizek Abdeljawad)
“Hamas leaders follow, evaluate the current developments and consequences and will take the needed positions,” said Haniyeh.
The Israeli media also reported that Israel sent indirect letters of warnings to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements, in case they try to respond to the assassinations of Soleimani.
Adnan Abu A’amer, a political science professor at the Gaza-based al-Ummah University told Xinhua that the assassination of Soleimani “will open the door widely for possible serious escalations.”
“Iran expected that Soleimani will be assassinated by Israel, then Iran would easily respond. But when the assassination was carried out by the United States, the Iranian retaliation, either against Israeli or American targets, would be so difficult,” said Abu A’amer.
He said that the possible escalation after the assassination of Soleimani will personally serve Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “simply because this situation would rescue him from the crisis of the formation of the Israeli government.”
Global News 
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