Gershon Baskin explains what the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh means for the Israeli hostages, how the Gaza war ends and why Benjamin Netanyahu is a hostage to its problems.
Die Presse: How does the murder of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh last week affect the negotiations for an agreement in Gaza?
Gershon Baskin: Hanijeh was not at the negotiating table. This is misinformation being spread around the world. Khalil al-Hayya, his deputy, led the negotiating team. But Hamas makes decisions by consensus. And Haniyeh represented the people in the Politburo who are pushing for an agreement, in opposition to Yahya Sinwar (the leader of the military wing, ed.), who is making much tougher demands.