Can Israel, Hamas keep it calm after US killing of Soleimani?
For Israel, the return of deterrence is tainted with the possibility of a nightmare scenario.
![ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/HAMAS Palestinian Hamas militants take part in an anti-Israel military show in the southern Gaza Strip November 11, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RC2Z8D99U0S8](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2020/01-1/RTX78DUL.jpg/RTX78DUL.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=ISZvPpIL)
With all eyes on Iraq, it would be a mistake to lose sight of the consequences of how the US killing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 3 is playing out in Israel and Gaza.
While Israeli leaders viewed the killing of Soleimani as necessary to enhance deterrence with Iran, the prospect of a US pullout from Iraq presents Jerusalem with a nightmare scenario, as would a collapse of precarious truce between Israel and Hamas — an unwelcome development for both parties.