Rhino: Agencies – The Israeli government was silent on the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement Hamas, in Iran on Wednesday, but many Israelis celebrated the death of one of their fiercest enemies, following the months-long war on the movement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with defence officials in anticipation of the next move, after his security credentials were shattered by one of the worst attacks on Israeli soil carried out by Hamas gunmen on October 7.

But he seemed to have already benefited from the almost non-stop news coverage on Wednesday, with the words ‘Haniyeh eliminated in Tehran’ appearing in the headlines of Israel’s four biggest TV channels.

There was relief in many parts of Israel after the army said it had killed a top leader of the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah in Beirut in retaliation for an attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The Israeli government’s press office posted a photo of Haniyeh on Facebook with the words ‘eliminated’ written on his forehead, which was later removed. Two government ministers who are not members of the circle of officials who make strategic decisions celebrated the news of the assassination on social media.

Officially, Netanyahu’s government was silent on the operation, a rare sign of unity in his divided coalition. ‘We do not comment on this particular incident,’ a government spokesman told a press briefing.

Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks, said the assassination could derail efforts to end a war that has left Israel increasingly isolated.

Iran and Hamas are threatening retaliation. But many in Israel welcome the attack on its arch-enemies, suggesting it could give a boost to chances of ending the war.