Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran, Hamas says

“Assassinating Ismail Haniyeh is a cowardly act and will not go unpunished,” Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said on Al Arabiya TV.

Hamas announced early Wednesday that its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Tehran. Haniyeh, 62, was reportedly killed in a targeted strike at his residence shortly after attending the inauguration ceremony for Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.

According to a statement released on Telegram by Hamas, Haniyeh “succumbed to a treacherous Zionist raid.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran confirmed the attack and stated that an investigation is underway, as reported by Iranian state media.

While Israeli authorities have not yet commented on the incident, the news was welcomed by senior Israeli official Amihai Eliyahu, who remarked on X (formerly Twitter) that Haniyeh’s death “makes the world a little better.” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, currently visiting the Philippines, acknowledged the reports but did not provide further details.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh

Haniyeh’s assassination is part of an ongoing campaign targeting Hamas leadership following the group’s October 7 attack on Israel from Gaza, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities and approximately 250 kidnappings. In April, three of Haniyeh’s sons were killed in an airstrike in Gaza.

The attack on Haniyeh underscores the long-standing proxy conflict between Iran and Israel, occurring at a particularly sensitive time with fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict expanding beyond Gaza. The region has already seen involvement from other Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

ALSO READ: Simone Biles y EEUU se redimen con oro olímpico en la gimnasia

Haniyeh had previously been involved in negotiating cease-fire agreements, and his death raises questions about the future of peace efforts in Gaza, where nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed. The incident may also impact the ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The strike on Haniyeh came just a day after the Israeli military announced the killing of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut, an area known for housing Hezbollah’s headquarters. The Israel Defence Forces stated that Shukr was behind a recent attack in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, which resulted in the deaths of 12 people, including children and teenagers.

The killing of Haniyeh has been condemned by officials from Hamas and other militant groups, as well as by senior Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh, who called for Palestinian unity in response to the incident.

The chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency had previously vowed to eliminate Haniyeh following the October 7 attack. While Haniyeh’s role as Hamas’ top political leader is now vacant, another key figure, Yahya Sinwar, remains at large in Gaza. Sinwar, considered the architect of the October 7 attack, has been labeled a “dead man walking” by Israel’s military.

Although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death, the event is likely to exacerbate tensions with Iran. In April, Iran launched rockets and drones at Israel in retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy in Damascus, Syria, which killed two of its top commanders. Although the attack was intercepted, it marked a significant escalation between the two nations. Iran, which does not recognize Israel, has previously stated that the West should appreciate its “restraint.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.