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‘A Symbolic Achievement’: Haniyeh’s Death a Blow to Hamas, But Will Not Change Terror Group Significantly, Analysts Say
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, March 26, 2024. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
The assassination of exiled Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has sent shock waves through the Palestinian terrorist organization and the broader Middle East but, on its own, is unlikely to undermine the Islamist group’s stability in the long term, analysts say.
Haniyeh, who as the terror group’s political chief is known for his role in recent Gaza ceasefire negotiations, was killed in Tehran early Wednesday morning by the “Zionist entity,” according to both Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hamas. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the assassination. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was not involved in Haniyeh’s elimination, only commenting that pursuing an immediate ceasefire was “imperative.”
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the terror group remained unfettered by Haniyeh’s death. “We are waging an open war to liberate Jerusalem and are ready to pay any price,” Abu Zuhri said. “Hamas is a concept and an institution and not persons. Hamas will continue on this path regardless of the sacrifices and we are confident of victory.”
Ibrahim Madhoun, an analyst closely affiliated with Hamas, underscored the terror group’s history of recovering from similar losses, having endured the assassinations of various political and military leaders in the past. It “came out of those scenarios stronger,” Madhoun told The New York Times.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to the prime minister of Israel, said that Haniyeh’s assassination was mostly symbolic.
“Hanieyh will be replaced within 48 hours, maybe by [Moussa] Abu Marzouk, or Khaled Mashal,” Amidror said in a call with The Algemeiner and other outlets.
“It is a symbolic action to make clear to everyone that Israel is ready to act whenever they can,” he added. “It says something about the determination of Israel to get rid of its enemies.”
Hamas’ Gaza-based chief Yahya Sinwar was a “much more important” target, Amidror said, that would have far-reaching repercussions on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, said Haniyeh’s assassination was a part of a plan to kill “all those who were involved in the Oct. 7 attack and the killing, burning, beheading, raping, of our citizens.”
Hamas launched the ongoing war with its invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, when the Palestinian terrorists murdered 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250 hostages to Gaza. Sinwar has been widely considered the mastermind of the attack.
Yadlin pointed out that the assassination occurred in Iran rather than Qatar, emphasizing that the choice was likely made to avoid jeopardizing ongoing hostage negotiations.
“Israel doesn’t want to open a new front with Doha,” he said, referring to Qatar’s role in mediating ongoing ceasefire negotiations. For years, Qatar has hosted senior Hamas leaders, including Haniyeh, who reportedly lived there in luxury.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei expressed outrage over Wednesday’s killing, vowing retaliation. In a statement released by the state-run IRNA news agency, Khamenei described the incident as a “martyrdom” inflicted by the “criminal and terrorist Zionist regime.” He vowed that Iran would impose a “harsh punishment” in response to the killing of Haniyeh, whom he referred to as a “beloved guest.”
Iran is the chief international sponsor of Hamas, providing the terror group with weapons, funding, and training. Haniyeh has traveled to Iran multiple times since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, including in May when he delivered a eulogy for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at a funeral.
The Hamas political chief was in Iran this week meeting with Khamenei and other top regime officials and participated on Tuesday in the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Despite being more directly involved in Hamas’ political affairs than its military operations, Haniyeh was placed on the US State Department’s Specially Designated Global Terrorists list in 2018.
“Haniyeh has close links with Hamas’ military wing and has been a proponent of armed struggle, including against civilians,” the department said at the time while announcing his terror designation. “He has reportedly been involved in terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Hamas has been responsible for an estimated 17 American lives killed in terrorist attacks.”
Haniyeh’s killing occurred after Israel conducted an airstrike in Beirut, eliminating Fuad Shukr, whom it identified as the military commander of Hezbollah’s terrorist operations.
Yadlin said that Iran, and its proxy Hezbollah, would take time before responding, and said that the response would be measured because they were not interested in igniting a full-scale war. “I can see them trying to attack Israelis in the global arena, like embassies and tourists, as they have done in the past,” he said.
Mohammad Dahlan, former senior official from the Palestinian Authority’s ruling Fatah movement and PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ main rival, condemned the “cowardly” assassination of Haniyeh, who he called a “great national leader.”
According to Amidror, Israel had more than a year to complete its campaign of destroying Hamas in Gaza. Another three months of intense conflict were required to eliminate the remaining battalions, primarily based in Rafah, he said, followed by a year of operations to “clean up” the remnants of the terror group in the rest of Gaza. This would involve routine raids into the Palestinian enclave, similar to those conducted in the West Bank during the Second Intifada.
“We’re at the end of the beginning,” he said.
The post ‘A Symbolic Achievement’: Haniyeh’s Death a Blow to Hamas, But Will Not Change Terror Group Significantly, Analysts Say first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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‘Get Out’: Adams Urges Cuomo Not to Play Spoiler in NYC Mayoral Race, Woos Jewish Voters

New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends “October 7: One Year Later” commemoration in New York City to mark anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in Israel. Photo: Ron Adar/ SOPA Images via Reuters Connect
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has a blunt message for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo: “Get out.”
In an interview released Monday by The Free Press, Adams urged Cuomo to exit the New York City mayoral race and clear the way for him him to prevail in November by unifying the opposition to controversial Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
“That’s the right thing to do for the city of New York,” said Adams during a conversation filmed at Gracie Mansion.
Although still a registered Democrat, Adams is running for reelection in November as an independent against the Democrats’ Mamdani, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, and potentially Cuomo, who for now remains formally in the race as an independent candidate despite losing to Mamdani last month in the Democratic primary.
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and an outspoken critic of US support for Israel, has built his campaign around challenging what he calls the Democratic Party’s brand of establishment politics. His vocal criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement have earned him both national attention and fierce backlash.
Adams, one of the most pro-Israel mayors in the country, has cast the progressive firebrand as dangerously out of step with mainstream Democrats. Without naming him directly in the interview, Adams painted a stark picture of ideological contrast, describing Mamdani’s worldview as extreme and divisive.
“We want to get safer, but when you look at someone like the candidate for mayor [who] wants to empty out Rikers Island, wants to defund police departments, the desire of believing we should not go after those who are repeated offenders and shoplifting, that is going to take us back,” Adams said.
Mamdani, a State Assembly member from Queens and the son of prominent leftist intellectual Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, has long aligned himself with anti-imperialist causes and Global South solidarity movements. While he has not directly responded to Adams’ latest remarks, he has previously accused the mayor of fear-mongering and failing to address the suffering of Palestinians.
New York City has a significant Jewish population, a key factor in Adams’s political calculus. Mamdani’s harsh critiques of Israel could prove polarizing among voters, particularly in more moderate or older blocs. As a result, Adams has made overtures to the Jewish community in an attempt to consolidate support of a critical voting bloc ahead of the general election.
“When you have the small population of Jewish residents [making up] 51 percent of the hate crimes [victims] in this city, that’s problematic,” Adams said. “So we started in office to end antisemitism. We signed the IHRA agreement, which standardized what antisemitism is.”
As mayor, Adams signed Executive Order 52 on June 8, 2025, formally adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
The definition characterizes antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews … expressed as hatred toward Jews” and lists 11 illustrative examples, such as Holocaust denial, collective Jewish responsibility, and denying Jews’ right to self-determination. Adams’s order directs all city agencies to apply this definition to identify and address antisemitic incidents, without infringing on First Amendment protections
Adding another layer of uncertainty to the general election race is the potential impact of Cuomo, who has floated a return to the campaign trail in recent months. Cuomo, also a staunch supporter of Israel during his tenure as governor, could divide pro-Israel voters and complicate Adams’ path to victory.
In the interview, Adams didn’t mince words about Cuomo’s potential spoiler role in November. He emphasized that Cuomo had already lost against Mamdani and that the former governor should gracefully bow out of the competition and let a stronger opponent combat the ascendant socialist.
The race, still months away from formal filing deadlines, is already emerging as a proxy battle over Israel, the direction of US foreign policy, and the growing rift between the Democratic establishment and its insurgent left wing.
In recent weeks, Adams has held events with Jewish community leaders and appeared on local radio stations emphasizing his unwavering support for Israel. His campaign advisers believe the contrast with Mamdani will be a central line of attack.
The post ‘Get Out’: Adams Urges Cuomo Not to Play Spoiler in NYC Mayoral Race, Woos Jewish Voters first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Austin Jewish Center Raises Over $180k for Families, Individuals Impacted by Texas Flooding

Search and rescue workers paddle a boat in the Guadalupe River in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, US, July 7, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Sergio Flores
The central hub of Jewish life in Austin, Texas, has raised $180,000 as of Tuesday morning to help those impacted by the floods that raged through summer camps and homes along the edge of the Guadalupe River.
Shalom Austin has received donations to its Flood Relief Campaign from 36 states since it launched the initiative on Saturday night after Shabbat, its CEO Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus told The Algemeiner. “It’s pretty incredible to think about the outpouring [of support],” he said. “And that’s just over two days’ worth of fundraising efforts.”
Shalom Austin consists of a Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center (JCC), Jewish Family Service and Jewish Foundation, all of which are located on the 40-acre Dell Jewish Community Campus in Northwest Austin that also houses three synagogues — including the oldest in Texas — and a day school.
Through Shalom Austin’s Jewish Family Service, families and individuals impacted by the floods will be offered mental health support, and Shalom Austin has already organized sessions to have people speak with licensed therapists. Septimus told The Algemeiner that a lot of families in the Shalom Austin community know people affected by the floods, including individuals who were killed. He added that a few Jewish community members in Austin had their homes destroyed by the flooding that began in central Texas late Thursday night.
The Flood Relief Campaign’s aid is not limited to Jewish community members affected by the flooding. Shalom Austin is organizing a committee to coordinate with local and national partners the allocation of resources to trusted organizations providing ground support, and the Jewish center is collecting food supplies that they will distribute to areas in dire need.
Shalom Austin is also working with all the Texas Jewish federations, and many federations outside of Texas, to provide additional aid to families and individuals impacted by the floods. While coordinating with people on the ground in San Antonio, Rabbi Septimus said it was ultimately decided that Shalom Austin would be the primary location for donations, even though other Jewish hubs are also helping to raise money and resources in other ways.
As of Tuesday, at least 109 people have been confirmed dead across six counties in central Texas. The death toll has surpassed the number of those killed by the historic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, and Thursday night’s flooding is considered the deadliest rainfall-driven flash flood in the US since 1976, according to The Weather Channel.
In Kerr County — home to several summer camps near the Guadalupe River — 87 people died, 30 of whom were children. Many of the individuals killed and missing were from Camp Mystic, a private all-girls Christian summer camp near the river. Deaths were also reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, according to local officials.
The post Austin Jewish Center Raises Over $180k for Families, Individuals Impacted by Texas Flooding first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Three Charged in Pro-Palestinian Rampage at Israeli-Owned Restaurant in Melbourne Amid Surge in Antisemitic Attacks

Women hold up flags during a a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 15, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Lewis Jackson
Three people have been charged with assault and other offenses after pro-Palestinian protesters vandalized an Israeli-owned restaurant in Melbourne over the weekend, marking the latest episode in a wave of antisemitic incidents that has shocked Australia and prompted a stronger government response.
According to Victoria State Police, a 50-year-old man and two women aged 48 and 28 have been charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour, and criminal damage. The investigation is still ongoing to determine who else was involved in the altercation.
On Friday, a group of around 20 protesters stormed a Jewish-owned restaurant, Miznon, in Melbourne’s central business district, vandalizing the property while shouting antisemitic slurs and offensive slogans.
According to local reports, the group chanted, “Death to the IDF” (the Israel Defense Forces), as they approached the restaurant, leaving customers frightened as protesters threw food, smashed windows, and overturned tables.
This demonstration was organized by the Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance — a pro-Palestinian activist group.
In a statement posted on social media, the group said the restaurant was targeted because it is owned by Shahar Segal, an Israeli businessman and spokesperson for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli- and US-backed organization criticized for its aid distribution in Gaza.
“If a person openly supports the terrorist state of Israel, especially what Amnesty International describes as their ‘deadly, dehumanizing and ineffective militarized aid scheme,’ they and their business are a fair target,” the activist group said.
For its part, the Israeli restaurant Miznon released a statement on Tuesday saying the events on Friday had a “profound impact” on its staff and customers, and called for respect and understanding moving forward.
“We are a restaurant, a place of hospitality, of warmth and welcome. Our greatest joy is to feed people from every background and viewpoint and to see the joy on people’s faces as they enjoy our food and each other’s company. That is our purpose and our objective,” the statement read.
“All our staff and customers are coming from different backgrounds and cultures. We respect everyone’s right to their own nationality and religion. We ask for the same,” it continued.
The incident occurred the same night a synagogue in Melbourne was targeted in an arson attack while worshippers were inside, as part of a string of antisemitic hate crimes that also saw several nearby Jewish-owned cars torched and spray-painted with hateful slogans.
Here is the clip of Pro-Palestinian arsonists who set fire to a Melbourne synagogue — while Jews were inside praying.
They poured flammable liquid on the doors and lit it up. Kids were inside.
This is antisemitism, full stop. pic.twitter.com/U0PEtnOr5o
— Leslie Young
︎ (@AkaLazarus) July 5, 2025
On Saturday night, local authorities arrested a 34-year-old Sydney resident in connection with the Shabbat prayer attack, charging him with multiple offenses, including criminal damage by fire.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the synagogue arson attack as a “cowardly act of violence and antisemitism” and urged authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrator to justice.
The nonprofit Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) also condemned Friday’s incidents, calling them “another escalation in the unprecedented wave of antisemitic incidents taking place in Australia.”
The organization’s CEO, Sacha Roytman, described the synagogue arson attack as an “attempted murder that miraculously ended without casualties” and called for it to be treated as a terrorist incident.
“We call on the Australian government, local authorities, and leaders from all sectors to take these grave events seriously,” Roytman said in a statement.
“The Australian government must take immediate action to protect the Jewish community, which has lost its sense of personal security — and fears that the situation will worsen even further.”
The post Three Charged in Pro-Palestinian Rampage at Israeli-Owned Restaurant in Melbourne Amid Surge in Antisemitic Attacks first appeared on Algemeiner.com.