Hamas leader's death might be key to moving forward with ceasefire in Gaza war, says expert

Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed on Wednesday (Jul 31) that its leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack in Iran capital Tehran. Hamas described the strike as a severe escalation that would not achieve its goal, saying the assassination would not go unanswered. Simon Frankel Pratt, lecturer of political science at the University of Melbourne, tells CNA’s Asia Now that Haniyeh’s death is “a very big deal" but Hamas likely does not have the capacity to escalate the Gaza war further in retaliation. He also says Haniyeh’s death may turn out to be instrumental in moving forward with a ceasefire.