Benjamin Netanyahu planning to revive “Operation wrath of God”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering authorizing a mission reminiscent of “Operation Wrath of God,” a targeted campaign aimed at eliminating Israel’s enemies across countries and continents.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Netanyahu has instructed Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, to develop a plan for executing such a mission, focusing on neutralizing high-value targets in Turkey, Lebanon, and Qatar.
Qatar, in particular, has drawn attention due to its hosting of a Hamas office in its capital, which was established in 2012 in coordination with the U.S. government following a request for a communication channel, as stated by a Qatari official in October.
Former Mossad Director Efraim Halevy has expressed concerns about the potential operations, cautioning that such actions could have unintended consequences and further destabilize the region.
Halevy emphasized that pursuing Hamas on a global scale with the intent to systematically eliminate its leaders may be driven more by a desire for revenge than a strategic aim.
The reported Mossad kill list includes prominent figures such as Ismail Haniyeh, Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Khaled Mashal.
Haniyeh, a former Palestinian prime minister, currently resides in voluntary exile, splitting his time between Qatar and Turkey.
Deif heads Hamas’ military wing and is considered Israel’s public enemy number one.
Sinwar, a former commander of the Ezzdine al-Qassam Brigades, spent 23 years in Israeli jails before being released in 2011.
Mashal, a founding member of Hamas Politburo, was the chairman until 2017, and his current whereabouts are believed to be in Qatar.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has expressed a determined stance, stating that hundreds of Hamas fighters and commanders are “living on borrowed time.”
The Wall Street Journal reports that some Israeli officials advocated for initiating the killing campaign shortly after the October 7 attacks.
Retired Israeli general Amos Yadlin is quoted as saying that a targeted killing campaign is “what justice demands.”
As Benjamin Netanyahu planning to revive “Operation wrath of God”, the potential authorization of a mission of this nature raises ethical, legal, and geopolitical considerations, with experts emphasizing the need for a careful assessment of the potential consequences on regional stability.
