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Israel’s recent admission of a direct strike on Iran marks a significant escalation in ongoing tensions, according to analyst Abas Aslani. He noted that while Tehran is downplaying the impact of the strike, Israel may be exaggerating its accomplishments.
“This suggests that Israel could be encouraged by the US to steer clear of a full-scale conflict in the region,” Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, told Al Jazeera from Tehran. He also pointed out that initial assessments indicate a serious or immediate Iranian response is not likely.
However, Aslani cautioned that some form of retaliation from Iran is still expected. He highlighted that developments outside Gaza are serving as distractions from the critical situation on the ground, particularly in the northern part of the Strip and the Jabalia refugee camp.
The ongoing conflict has transformed hospitals into battlegrounds, with reports indicating that these once-sacred spaces are now being used by the Israeli military. Among the 600 individuals trapped in hospitals, approximately 200—including wounded patients and those in intensive care—are currently without access to medical care.
Furthermore, disturbing reports have emerged of mass arrests conducted by the Israeli military, where male medical staff were separated from their female counterparts. The men were allegedly ordered to strip to their underwear, blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken to undisclosed locations for interrogation. Meanwhile, others have been confined to rooms without access to food or water for two consecutive days.
