Tehran: In a major development, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed early Wednesday after their residence in Tehran was targeted. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the high-profile killing in a statement to Iranian media.
The confirmation by Hamas reportedly came after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards informed them about the ‘martyrdom’ of the militant group’s chief.
Official Statement Confirms Haniyeh’s Death
“With condolences to the heroic nation of Palestine and the Islamic nation and combatants of the Resistant Front and the noble nation of Iran, this morning [Wednesday] the residence of Mr. Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was hit in Tehran, and following this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred,” the IRGC statement read, according to reports.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed after their residence in Tehran was targeted, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed in a statement, Iranian media reports.
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2024
Haniyeh Met Iran’s New President
Haniyeh attended the inauguration event of Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran yesterday. Visuals from the event showed a warm embrace between President Masoud Pezeshkian and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Warm embrace between the Islamic Republic’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and #Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at Pezeshkian’s inauguration in #Iran today. pic.twitter.com/RUAEnC67dl
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) July 30, 2024
Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh Reportedly Killed in Tehran
In a significant development amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly killed in the early hours of Wednesday in Tehran. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) reported the high-profile assassination, suggesting it was carried out in an Israeli raid. This comes just hours after Haniyeh met with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who posted images of the meeting on social media platform X.
Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian.
Who was Ismail Haniyeh?
Ismail Abdulsalam Ahmed Haniyeh was a prominent Palestinian leader and the head of Hamas, the militant group currently engaged in conflict with Israeli forces in Gaza.
Early Life and Education
Haniyeh was born in the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip. He attended United Nations-run schools before studying Arabic literature at the Islamic University of Gaza, graduating in 1987. His involvement with Hamas began during his university years.
Political Career
Haniyeh was also involved with the Muslim Brotherhood and participated in anti-Israel protests during the First Intifada. His activism within Hamas led to his appointment as the head of the office of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin in 1997, where he established close ties with the group’s leadership.
In 2006, Haniyeh was nominated as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. However, he had significant differences with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, leading to factional conflict between Hamas and Fatah.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, a notable incident occurred when Israel refused him entry into Palestine through the Rafah border crossing. Haniyeh was returning to Gaza from his first trip abroad, carrying USD 30 million.
Despite the elimination of much of Hamas’s top leadership by Israel, Haniyeh played a crucial role in maintaining the group’s structure. He assumed leadership of Hamas in 2016 and was designated as a terrorist by the United Nations in 2018.
Role in the Israel-Hamas War
Following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Haniyeh strongly supported the attack and the taking of hostages. He remained firm on conditions for a ceasefire, including the opening of humanitarian corridors and negotiations based on the Two-State Solution before the release of all hostages.
Haniyeh’s reported assassination marks a pivotal moment in the Israel-Hamas conflict, potentially impacting the dynamics of the ongoing war.
He was butcher- well done by Israel