Robert Patman: Otago University professor on the risks that come with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's death

An international relations professor believes the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh brings considerable risks to Israel.

Hamas has released a statement, saying the 62-year-old was killed in an Israeli 'raid' on his home in Tehran.

Iranian analysts have immediately blamed Israel for the attack, but Israel is yet to officially comment.

Otago University professor Robert Patman, says Haniyeh was one of the top negotiators in the hostage talks in Qatar.

"To take him out sends a signal that perhaps Netanyahu puts the fate of the hostages somewhat below his concerns to annihilate or eradicate Hamas."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, Hamas's leader, Ismail Honeyer has been assassinated inside Tidan,
inside around themselves. He was in a run to attend
the President's where in ceremony on Tuesday. No one has
claimed responsibility as of yet, but analysts on Iranian state
TV immediately began blaming Israel for the attack and considering
the tensions in the area, this is not good. Robert Patman,

(00:22):
of course, is our international relations professor at Otago University.
I go to Guy. He's with us now.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Good evening, Robert, Good evening, Andrew.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Is this significant? He was the top man at Hamas.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
It's very significant, but not perhaps in the way that
it first seems on the Facebook. It seems like a
great trial from Nen mister Neshna, who has said that
he would it made no secret the fact that he
wants to eradicate Hamas and taking out the top political
leader would seem to be part of that process. The

(00:55):
question is, however, does this make Israel more secure? And
that remains to be seen, because clearly Israel has taking
a considerable risk in doing this. Hanne Here was one
of the negotiators involved in the hostage negotiations in Kata

(01:17):
and so to take him out sends a signal perhaps
that Nestl who puts the fate of the hostages somewhat
below his concerns to annihilate or eradicate Hammers.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
And I mentioned it was in Iran, you know, and
Israel already absolutely yeah, Israel already. They've not commented on it.
They never comment when an assassination is carried out by
the moss Ed intelligence agency. So this looks like pretty deep,
deep sort of stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, it looks like Iran will probably feel like they
have to respond to this. It's no secret that Iran
has been backing Hammers, and this is you know, there
was the attack on the concer that in Damascus, the
Iranian concert, which killed six or seven Iranian officials, which

(02:06):
is a complete breach of international law. And they've now
assassinated the leader. The problem is, I don't think there'll
be any shortage of leaders or potential leaders to replace
Hanniah within Hamas leadership. There seems to be a presumption
that you can engineer your way to peace through assassination.
But the fact of the matter is, unless Israel provides

(02:27):
a path to political self determination for the Palestinian people,
I think such tactics are unlikely to really deliver the
security that Israel is seeking.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
Robert, thank you so much. Robert Patman, the director of
International Authairs at the Ottaga University and Yeah, Worrying Times.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.