The journalist, correspondent of Israeli newspapers and G.G. of KISE Victor Is. Eliezer spoke on the "Mirror" program of Christos Michaelides, on the First Program of ERT Radio, on 31.7.2024, about the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, its consequences inside and outside Israel and its importance for the outcome of the war Israel – Hamas. listen up here (from minute 13 to 26:53').
Chr. Michaelides:
So here we are and here now, 19 minutes after 9, our daily informative adventure begins here in the mirror of Protos. With my guest now Mr. Victor Eliezer, he is a journalist, correspondent for the Israeli newspaper "Yediot Ahronot" in Athens.
Tomorrow marks 400 days of war after the massacre by Hamas on October 7th and Tel Aviv's campaign to eliminate, as he said, the terrorist organization.
This was Netanyahu's first conversation at the time. Today we woke up to the news that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, with members of the terrorist group now declaring that, despite the loss of their leader, the war on Israel will continue unabated. So we have a lot to talk about with our guest now.
Good morning, Mr. Eliezer.
Victor Eliezer:
Good day, Mr. Michaelides, good morning to our listeners.
Chr. Michaelides:
When we were making the show with Vasiliki yesterday and we were talking about which journalist to bring out at the beginning of the show, I have long learned from Mr. Eliezer, there is tension in the Middle East. I confess that I did not expect this to be the first news of the day. Today we will discuss the assassination of the Hamas leader.
So, tell me your opinion, what do you get, what is heard from Tel Aviv?
Victor Eliezer:
To be honest, Mr. Michaelides, I had planned our discussion differently. Developments and events are happening and are catching up with us. I think we should all be very careful after the assassination of Haniya for the next few days and for the next developments in the region.
Why am I saying this?
Chr. Michaelides:
What do you mean by being careful?
Victor Eliezer:
Let's be careful, because any triumphalism, you know, about the assassination of the political leader of Hamas, in my opinion, is a triumphalism about what? It is a triumphalism that should not prevail anywhere, because there is a drama, and I think that in Israel, if one excludes three ministers, who directly started the triumphalism, a climate of sobriety prevails, precisely because Hamas is holding 115 Israeli hostages.
Chr. Michaelides:
And that makes it very difficult, I imagine.
Victor Eliezer:
This makes it very difficult. One must also put oneself in the shoes of the relatives of the hostages today. How these people, how the mother, the father, the brother, the friend, the neighbor feel today about what is going to happen to their own people, who have been held for 300 days in the bowels of Gaza. This is the first point.
The second point is that this strike, if carried out – inside or outside of quotation marks – by Israel, sends specific messages in every direction. Mainly in the direction of Iran and of course to every successor of the terrorist organization of Hamas and Hezbollah. That is, there is no way that all those responsible for the massacre of October 7 will find safe haven.
And Haniyeh, Ismail Haniyeh, let me remind our listeners, on the same evening of October 7th, he was watching from his lodging in Qatar, along with the Hamas leadership, and they were praying, thanking Allah for the "great victory" they achieved with the massacre of 1.200 Israelis.
Chr. Michaelides:
Yes. Do you believe, Mr. Eliezer, that after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the role of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in Lebanon, who has also been playing a role since the first day of the war, will be upgraded?
Victor Eliezer:
Look, both Hezbollah, which is a Shiite organization, and Hamas, which is not Shiite but Sunni, are the distant arms of Iran.
The assassination of Haniyeh is a major blow to Iran's prestige and Hamas's operational capability.
If the diplomatic efforts currently being made by the US and France in Lebanon fail and Hezbollah does not withdraw in accordance with UN Resolution 1701, we will inevitably see further escalation of the situation.
Chr. Michaelides:
Yes. Mr. Victor Eliezer, thank you very much for the detailed briefing you gave us today.
Victor Eliezer:
Thank you, Mr. Michaelides. Have a good day.
Chr. Michaelides:
Good morning.