Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran while attending the inauguration of the country’s new president. Hamas confirmed that Haniyeh’s death followed an Israeli strike on Tuesday targeting a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut. The strike also killed a senior commander of the Iran-backed group, whom Israel accused of being behind a recent rocket attack on the Israel-annexed Golan Heights.
A statement by Hamas on Wednesday announced, "Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of the new (Iranian) president." Iran’s Revolutionary Guards corroborated Haniyeh’s death, stating his residence in Tehran was hit, resulting in the deaths of Haniyeh and a bodyguard.
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Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday. The Israeli army has declined to comment on the incident, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his commitment to dismantle Hamas and recover hostages taken during the October 7 attack, which initiated the current Gaza conflict.
Haniyeh, who led Hamas’s political bureau since 2017, was a significant figure in Palestinian politics and served as Palestinian prime minister in 2006 after Hamas's electoral victory. Known for his diplomatic relationships and pragmatic approach, he had been living in exile, primarily in Turkey and Qatar. Haniyeh’s death marks a critical moment in the ongoing regional conflict, which has seen significant escalation since October.
