Iran may launch a direct attack on Israel soon, Israeli intelligence says

Attack to be in retaliation for the killing of the head of the Palestinian terrorist movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran in late July, Ravid said. Both Hamas and Iran blame Haniyeh’s death on Israel, which has not claimed responsibility, but has not denied it either.

According to Ravid, the revenge attack could happen even before the negotiation of the agreement on Israeli hostages held by Hamas. This meeting will be held on August 15.

Haniyeh’s death prompted threats of retaliation against Israel and fueled further fears that the conflict in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with Hamas, will turn into a wider Middle East war.

The conflict in the Gaza Strip triggered an unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, which killed 1,200 people on October 7 last year. About 250 other people were dragged away by the terrorists to the territory of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military offensive has since claimed the lives of nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources.

In the first cease-fire​​​​​​ and so far only at the end of November, less than half of the guards were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. About 120 hostages are still in captivity, but not all are alive. The next round of talks on the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is expected to take place on Thursday.