Tehran — Ismail Haniyeh, a leading figure in the Hamas organization, was killed early Wednesday morning after his residence in Tehran was reportedly targeted, according to a statement from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Reuters has confirmed that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group engaged in an ongoing conflict with Israel in Gaza, has blamed the attack on Israeli forces.
In a response to the assassination, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri condemned the killing, describing it as a grave escalation that would not achieve its intended goals. Speaking to Reuters, Abu Zuhri stated that Hamas remains resilient and capable of enduring the loss of its leaders.
The Hamas-affiliated Shehab news site quoted Abu Zuhri emphasizing that Hamas, as a movement, is strong enough to survive such attacks. Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari assured that Israel is “fully prepared for any scenario” but expressed a preference for resolving hostilities without further escalation.
Haniyeh had been involved in ceasefire negotiations amidst the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. Previously, Hamas had accused Israeli airstrikes of killing three of Haniyeh’s sons and four of his grandchildren in April.
This development follows a recent claim by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of having killed Fuad Shukr, a prominent commander of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Shukr was alleged to have orchestrated a drone strike that resulted in the deaths of 12 children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Hamas has labeled Haniyeh’s death as a “treacherous Zionist raid” and promised retaliation. Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk condemned the act as cowardly, with Hebrew media reports suggesting imminent retaliation.
Who Was Ismail Haniyeh?
Ismail Haniyeh, aged 62, was born in a refugee camp near Gaza City. Joining Hamas in the late 1980s, he quickly rose to prominence, becoming a close associate of the group’s founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Haniyeh served multiple prison sentences in Israel during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Following Hamas’s victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Haniyeh briefly served as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority before being dismissed by President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007. In 2017, he was elected head of Hamas’s political wing and was subsequently designated a “specially designated global terrorist” by the United States.
Haniyeh was in Tehran for the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday. The IRGC has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, Iranian state television analysts have quickly attributed the assassination to Israel.
Analysis and Context
The assassination of Haniyeh marks a significant escalation in regional tensions. Israel has been suspected of conducting targeted assassinations in a broader campaign against Iranian nuclear scientists and other figures linked to Iran’s atomic program, though no official comment has been made regarding this incident.
Key Points:
- Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh: Top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence in Tehran early Wednesday morning. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported the incident, and Hamas has accused Israeli forces of being responsible.
- Hamas’s Response: Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri denounced the killing as a severe escalation but asserted that the group remains resilient. Hamas vowed to retaliate, describing the attack as a “treacherous Zionist raid.”
- Israeli Military Readiness: Israel stated it is “fully prepared for any scenario” in response to the escalation. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari expressed a preference for resolving conflicts without further warfare.
- Haniyeh’s Role and Background: Haniyeh, 62, was a prominent Hamas leader who played a key role in negotiations during the Israel-Gaza conflict. He had a history with Hamas dating back to the late 1980s and was a former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority.
- Recent Developments: The assassination follows a claim by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of having killed Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah commander involved in a drone strike on Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
- Iranian Response: Analysts on Iranian state television have blamed Israel for the attack on Haniyeh. Iran has not yet provided detailed information on the circumstances of the killing, and the IRGC is investigating the incident.
