Biden convening national security team as tensions flare between Israel and Iran

The assassination of Haniyeh is especially hard to swallow for Iran, Hamas and others in the Iran-backed Palestinian resistance, Burcu Ozcelik, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank, said by email. Haniyeh’s and Shukr’s killings “dealt a blow to the prestige and self-authorizing power of these groups,” which have long boasted of wielding “military might and battle-proven status,” she said.