Hamas has announced the death of its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran.
Haniyeh was in the Iranian capital attending the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian at the time of the attack.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and threats of retaliation. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed that Haniyeh’s residence was struck, resulting in his death and that of a bodyguard. The cause of the attack is currently under investigation.
The killing of Haniyeh follows recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon. On the day prior, Israel conducted a strike on a southern Beirut neighborhood, killing a senior Hezbollah commander in response to a rocket attack on the Golan Heights.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed to defend Iranian territory and ensure that those responsible “regret their cowardly actions.” This rhetoric highlights the potential for increased regional instability.
The assassination has raised concerns about the future of peace talks. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who has been involved in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas, expressed skepticism about the possibility of successful negotiations in light of Haniyeh’s death. Qatar has been a key player in mediating the Gaza conflict, alongside Egypt and with U.S. support.
International reactions have been swift. Pakistan labeled the strike a “reckless act,” while Russia condemned it as a “completely unacceptable political assassination.” Syria warned that the attack could inflame regional tensions further.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas condemned the assassination, calling it a “cowardly act” and urging Palestinians to remain resolute against Israeli actions. Abbas’s statement underscores the broader implications for Palestinian unity and resistance.
Hamas has vowed that Haniyeh’s death “will not go unanswered.” Musa Abu Marzuk, a senior Hamas official, emphasized that the assassination would not go unpunished.
Haniyeh, who became Hamas’s political bureau chief in 2017, was a prominent figure in Palestinian politics, having previously served as Prime Minister in 2006. He had been targeted by the International Criminal Court along with other key figures due to alleged war crimes.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has intensified since the recent violence, with the death toll in Gaza rising sharply. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to dismantle Hamas and recover hostages taken during the October 7 attack, which triggered the current conflict. The Israeli military campaign has resulted in significant casualties, further complicating the path to peace in the region.
