Assassination of Hamas political leader to evoke new round of bloody conflicts: Gazans

Local residents in Gaza City of the war-torn Gaza Strip said that the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh was a deliberate sabotage of the ceasefire negotiation process and that Israel intended to drag the entire region into a new round of violent conflicts.

Early Wednesday morning, the residence of Haniyeh in Tehran was hit in an airstrike after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president, resulting in the death of Haniyeh as one of Hamas' highest-ranking officials and a bodyguard.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps of Iran says Haniyeh was killed by an "air-launched guided projectile" that struck the building. The attack happened just hours after Israel's strike on Beirut, which killed Hezbollah senior commander Fuad Shukr.

After the incident, a China Media Group (CMG) correspondent visited the former residence of Haniyeh at Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. Earlier in June, an Israeli air strike killed 10 members of Haniyeh's family here, including his younger sister, sons and grandchildren.

Residents at the camp fiercely condemned the attack.

"The purpose of Israel's attack on Hamas [political] leader Ismail Haniyeh is to completely destroy all negotiation processes, eliminate all political positions that may help the Palestinian people find a solution, pull the plug on the negotiations among Hamas, Israel and related mediators and wipe out the possibility of the Palestinian people living a better life in the future," said Sherif Hassouna, a resident.

"If it weren't for the United States, Israel would not dare to attack Ismail Haniyeh. The United States must have played a big role in the attack. It was the United States that gave Israel the 'green light'," said Mahmoud Al-Najjar, another resident.

"I think Israel is seeking to plunge the entire region into bloody conflict. When it bombed the port of Hodeidah in Yemen and killed Lebanese Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shokor and Hamas [political] leader Ismail Haniyeh, Israel wanted to fill the region with sanguinary conflicts. (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu really wants to achieve his victory, because there is a conflict between him and the army. The Israeli army in the Gaza Strip is already exhausted and military vehicles are constantly damaged and destroyed. And on the streets of Israel, there are more and wider demonstrations, demanding a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. I think Israel's actions may lead to a turn in another direction, towards more extreme bloody scenes," said Yusri Al-Ghoul, a political analyst.

Assassination of Hamas political leader to evoke new round of bloody conflicts: Gazans

Assassination of Hamas political leader to evoke new round of bloody conflicts: Gazans

Assassination of Hamas political leader to evoke new round of bloody conflicts: Gazans

Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.

In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.

Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.

In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.

"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.

"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.

"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.

Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.

The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.

Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai