Image Credit: The Times of Israel
A former leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Hanan Ashrawi, has accused Israel of being a “rogue state” aiming to destabilize the Middle East through targeted assassinations. Her statements were made following the recent killings of key figures from Hamas and Hezbollah in Tehran and Beirut, respectively. According to Ashrawi, these acts are part of a deliberate strategy by Israel to provoke widespread unrest and hinder peace efforts in the region.
Ashrawi, a Palestinian political leader, highlighted that the assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political chief, and Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah military commander, were intended to derail any potential ceasefire agreements in Gaza and to escalate tensions across the Middle East. She expressed these views on social media, condemning Israel’s actions as attacks not only on the capitals of sovereign states but also on prominent leaders, aiming to ensure maximum provocation and destabilization.
The veteran politician and former PLO Executive Committee member characterized Israel’s methods as “gangster-style assassination and extrajudicial executions.” She argued that such actions are designed to inflame the entire region and sabotage peace initiatives. In her social media posts, Ashrawi stressed that Israel’s behavior constitutes a global threat, labeling it a “rogue state” that poses a real and present danger internationally.
In the broader context of Israeli-Palestinian relations, Ashrawi’s statements add to the discourse on the impact of targeted killings on diplomatic efforts and regional stability. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, recognizing the potential repercussions of such actions on the fragile peace processes and the overall geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.