Hamas Confirms Death of Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran
New Delhi: Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed in a targeted attack on his residence in Tehran, the Palestinian group confirmed today. In a statement, Hamas described the incident as a ‘treacherous Zionist raid’ that occurred on Tuesday morning. Haniyeh was reportedly in the Iranian capital for the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Hamas issued a statement mourning the loss of their leader, saying, “Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran.” The Iranian Revolutionary Guards also confirmed the strike, stating that Haniyeh’s residence had been hit, resulting in his death and that of his bodyguard.
The group accused Israel of orchestrating the assassination, calling it a ‘grave escalation‘ intended to weaken Hamas. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, condemned the attack, saying it aimed to ‘break the will of Hamas.’ Israeli Minister Amichay Eliyahu responded on ‘X’ , stating, “This is the right way to clean the world from this filth.”
The incident comes in the wake of heightened tensions following a deadly attack on October 7, where Israel pledged to eliminate Haniyeh and dismantle Hamas. Haniyeh, who had led the Hamas political bureau since 2017, was known for his diplomatic engagements and connections with various Palestinian factions. His assassination marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the potential to further escalate tensions in the region.
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