Yahya Sinwar

The temperature is soaring. The already incendiary region of the Near Middle East is one step closer to the danger of a broader escalation after the assassination of Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran early this morning.

Fears of a wider regional escalation have been raised following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the capital of Iran, where he had traveled for the inauguration of the country’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran on Wednesday, escalating tensions in the Middle East and prompted heightened global concern.

Hamas vowed the act "will not go unanswered," as its armed wing said Wednesday that the killing of its political leader takes the war with Israel to a "new levels," warning of repercussions for the entire region.

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza targeted Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, resulting in the destruction of a populated area. While a senior Israeli source indicated that Deif was likely killed, confirmation is still pending. Rafa Salama, commander of the Hamas brigade in Khan Younis, was also reportedly at the scene, with the Saudi publication "Al-Hadat" claiming his death.

The Gaza civil defense agency said an Israeli air strike early on Tuesday killed 10 members of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh's family, in an attack the Israeli military did not immediately confirm.

United States lawmakers are considering imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to US House Speaker Mike Johnson. He stated that Congress is exploring various options, including sanctions, to penalize the ICC and ensure accountability for its leadership if they proceed with the warrant.

Israel and Hamas, engaged in heavy fighting in the Gaza Strip, both angrily rejected on Monday moves to arrest their leaders for war crimes made before an international court.

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor Karim Khan said he had applied for arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas leaders over the conflict.

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Monday applied for arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Karim Khan said he was seeking warrants against Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes including "starvation", "wilful killing", and "extermination and/or murder".

“Sinwar is expected to reject any agreement that does not include a credible path to ending the war,” the officials stated to the WSJ

Hamas has demanded a "clear written commitment" that Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip during the second of a three-phase ceasefire deal, a senior Egyptian official and a Hamas official said yesterday.

"We confirm our readiness to reach a deal regarding a serious exchange of prisoners between the two sides," Hamas said.