The death of her deputy leader Hamas, Saleh al-Aruri in Beirut by Israeli fire has caused enormous concern worldwide for escalation of attacks in the Middle East.

So far Israel has not confirmed that it is behind the attack however Hezbollah vows retaliation. In its first reaction early last night, Hezbollah spoke of a dangerous development and warned that it “will not go unanswered or unpunished” while stressing that “the resistance has its finger on the trigger.” It has been four months since last August when the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, had warned of a “strong response” if the organization was hit at its headquarters, pointing out that “we will not tolerate it and we will not allow Lebanon to become a new killing field for Israel.”

As the hours pass after the Israeli strike international calls for restraint are growing. Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday night the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon, Abdallah Bou Habib, said his government is talking to Hezbollah not to “convince them that they should not respond themselves” but “we are having a dialogue with them regarding this perspective” he said.

In the next 24 hours it will become clear “whether they will answer or not”he said, adding: “We are very concerned, [οι] Lebanese people don’t want to be dragged, even Hezbollah doesn’t want to be dragged into a regional war.”

Alongside, called the West “to press Israel to also stop all violence and all its actions, not only in Lebanon, not only in Beirut, but also in Gaza.”

THE United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) “is deeply concerned about any potential escalation, which would have devastating consequences for citizens on both sides of the Blue Line,” agency spokeswoman Candice Ardiel said today.

After the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon in 2000after 22 years of possession, the UN drew a “Blue Line” defining the border between the two countries.

“We continue to strongly appeal to all sides to cease fire and to any influential interlocutors to urge restraint”she added.

For self-composition, he also called the French president, Emmanuel Macron who urged the Israeli government to “avoid any behavior” that could lead to “escalation,” “especially in Lebanon.”

The French president, who spoke by phone with Israeli minister Benny Gantz, a member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime government, stressed that it was “necessary to avoid any behavior that could lead to escalation, especially in Lebanon,” adding that Paris would “continue to deliver this message to all actors directly or indirectly involved” in the conflict, according to his services.

The Israeli media celebrate his extermination

At the same time, in many of the Israeli media, such as Seth Frantzman and the Jerusalem Post, the killing of Saleh al-Arouri is celebrated. It is described as “a game-changing event” and “the end of an era for Hamas.”

However, they are also noted possible repercussions that may arise with al-Arouri being among the key players in indirect talks brokered by Qatar and Egypt over the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.