While most members of the security cabinet slept, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stayed overnight at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. This led to a delayed knowledge among others regarding the alleged assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, as reported by Israeli media on Wednesday. Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of being behind the attack.
Netanyahu’s presence at the Kirya coincided with the assassination of terrorist Fuad Shukr in Beirut, and he remained there during the reported killing of Haniyeh. The security cabinet was not informed about Israel’s actions in response to the massacre in Majdal Shams until after the assassination of Shukr in Beirut, leading to assumptions about Israel’s involvement in both incidents.
Following these events and the threats that followed, the defense Cabinet is set to convene at 16:00 to discuss the situation further.