Israel "Does Not Want War but Is Prepared"... No Mention of 'Haniya Assassination'

Israeli Defense Minister Visits Surface-to-Air Missile Battery

Israel has stated that it is preparing for all possibilities, without mentioning the assassination of Hamas' top political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel (center), attending a meeting on the 30th of last month (local time), the day before Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 31st (local time), according to local reports such as Haaretz and The Times of Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant visited the Arrow surface-to-air missile battery, Israel's ballistic missile defense system, and said, "We do not want war, but we are preparing for all possibilities."

Minister Galant emphasized to the soldiers that the Arrow defense system has proven capable of responding to threats from Yemen and Iran during the Gaza Strip war, urging them to "be ready."

However, Minister Galant did not comment on the assassination of Haniyeh.

After news of the assassination spread, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would convene a security cabinet meeting. However, there was no detailed explanation as to whether the meeting was related to the situation with Iran.