Watan-Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak admitted that it is impossible to imagine a setback for the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, after the assassination of its political office deputy head, Saleh Al-Arouri, in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Barak stated in an interview with Israeli Channel 13 that those who believe the assassination of Saleh Al-Arouri would cause a setback for the Hamas movement are mistaken. He emphasized that there would be no immediate replacement for him.

He added that it would be a mistake to assume that a replacement for Saleh Al-Arouri would be less skilled than him, explaining that there is a substitute for every leader in the Hamas movement.

He continued: “If we look at the bigger picture, and compare the elimination of the Hamas leadership on one side and the release of prisoners on the other in terms of importance, both are equal.”

However, he pointed out that in terms of priority, the release of prisoners is more urgent for Israel.

Saleh Al-Arouri’s Assassination

Al-Arouri was killed in a drone strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an operation that also resulted in the assassination of six other leaders and members of the Hamas movement.

Hamas mourned Al-Arouri and the two leaders of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Samir Fandi and Azzam Aqra, along with four other members of the movement: Mohammad al-Rayyes, Ahmed Hamoud, Mohammad Basha, and Mahmoud Zaki Shahin.

🔴#حزب_الله في بيانٍ رسمي:

⏪جريمة #اغتيال_العاروري لن تمر أبدا دون عقاب و #المقاومة ستقوم بالرد وهي على أقصى درجات الجاهزية.

⏪#اغتيال_صالح_العاروري ورفاقه الشهداء في قلب #الضاحية_الجنوبية لـ #بيروت اعتداء خطير على #لبنان.

⏪اغتيال صالح العاروري تطور خطير في مسار الحرب بين… pic.twitter.com/IWr4t5eKDu

— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) January 2, 2024

In turn, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, stated that the assassination of Saleh Al-Arouri and those with him on Lebanese soil confirms that the Israeli occupation is a danger to the nation.

In a statement, they added that the battlefield with this occupation is open, and it is the duty of the sons of our nation in all arenas and fronts to confront and deter it until this cancer is uprooted from the land of Palestine and the nation is relieved of its evils.

They continued: “The assassination of our leaders is a badge of honor for us, and it will only increase our movement and resistance in determination and steadfastness to continue the path and make the occupation pay the price for its aggression. Their blood will remain a beacon lighting the way to liberation, and curses will pursue this fragile entity until it is swept away from our land and our sanctities. And they ask you about when it will happen; say, ‘Perhaps it will be soon.’