Hamas Political Chief Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Iran
Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh was brutally assassinated in Iran’s capital Tehran. He had gone to Tehran to attend the oath ceremony of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.
On 31st July 2024, Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh was brutally assassinated in Tehran, Iran's capital. Hamas confirmed his death in an official statement, revealing that Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on 30th July 2024.
Haniyeh was staying at a residence for war veterans when, at around 2:00 am, a guided missile hit the building, killing him and one of his bodyguards. Hamas called the attack "a treacherous Zionist raid" and blamed Israel for the killing, warning of retribution.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also confirmed Haniyeh’s death but did not provide details about the attack, stating that an investigation was underway.
The assassination has caused significant turmoil for Iran's new President Pezeshkian, who now faces demands for explanations and a strong response. Pezeshkian vowed that Iran would defend its honor and retaliate against the attackers.
While Israel has remained silent on the matter, Israel’s Minister of Heritage, Amihai Elihayu, celebrated Haniyeh’s death on social media, calling it a positive change for the world.
Countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Qatar, China, and Russia have condemned the assassination, with thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protesting in Istanbul.
The US representative to the UN, Robert Wood, stated that the US was not aware of or involved in the assassination.
Ismail Haniyeh, elected as the chief of Hamas’ political bureau in 2017, was known as a diplomatic spokesperson for Hamas during the Gaza conflict and had lost several family members to the ongoing war. He was considered a moderate figure within Hamas.
Both Hamas and Iran are investigating the assassination further. Haniyeh’s funeral prayers will be held on 1st August 2024 in Tehran, after which his body will be transferred to Doha, Qatar, for final prayers and burial.
