NEW YORK, November 1. /TASS/. The Shiite organization Hezbollah will take part in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict if the radical Palestinian movement Hamas is ‘on its last legs,’ the New York Times reported, citing a Lebanese official.
According to the newspaper, the threat to destroy Hamas would be a red line for Hezbollah to intervene in the conflict. The Shiite organization is probably holding back its forces to avoid an even greater escalation of the Middle East conflict, the official pointed out. In his opinion, Hezbollah believes that Hamas does not need help now.
Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when militants from the radical Palestinian group Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking hostages, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel has announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and has been delivering air strikes on Gaza as well as some parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also underway in the West Bank.