Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was reportedly assassinated in Tehran, Iran’s capital, according to a statement released by Hamas on the morning of July 31. The statement accuses Israel of being responsible for his death. It mentions that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when the building they were staying in was targeted.
In a separate announcement on Iran’s state media, Hamas described the incident as a ‘treacherous Zionist raid’ on Haniyeh’s residence in Tehran and vowed to seek revenge. Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 30.
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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran also confirmed Haniyeh’s death. Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported that he had been targeted at his residence along with an Iranian bodyguard. They stated that an investigation into the circumstances of the “incident” was underway.
Israel has not yet commented on the killing.
Palestinian President: Haniyeh Assassination a ‘Serious Escalation
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has condemned the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh as a ‘cowardly act’ and called for Palestinian unity in the face of Israeli actions, according to a report by the Associated Press on Wednesday, July 31.
In a statement, Abbas’s office described the assassination as a ‘serious escalation’ and urged Palestinians to come together, exercise patience, and remain resolute against the Israeli occupation.
History Repeats: Israel’s Pattern of Targeting Hamas Leadership
Israel remained silent on the death of Haniyeh, with local media reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office instructed cabinet ministers not to comment. However, far-right Heritage Minister Amihai Elihayu expressed his approval on the social media platform X, stating that the killing “makes the world a little better.”
In 2004, Israel conducted an airstrike in Gaza that killed Hamas’ then-leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi. That same year, it also assassinated one of the militant group’s founders, Ahmed Yassin, in Gaza City.
Earlier this month, an airstrike on Khan Younis targeted Mohammed Deif, a key mastermind behind the October 7 attack on Israel. The strike destroyed several buildings and resulted in the deaths of 90 people. However, it is still uncertain whether Deif was killed, as he has previously survived at least 7 Israeli assassination attempts.
Recently, Haniyeh had been leading efforts to negotiate a cease-fire from exile in Qatar. His alleged assassination occurred just hours after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility for killing senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur in an airstrike on Beirut, Lebanon, on July 30.
The IDF stated that Shukur had been targeted for his role in a rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which struck a football pitch and killed 12 people, including children.
Haniyeh’s 30-Year Hamas Journey
Haniyeh joined Hamas in 1987, during the group’s formation amid a major uprising against Israel. He became the Palestinian Prime Minister in 2006, though his position’s legitimacy was contested by rival factions for years. In 2017, he was elected as the leader of Hamas’ political bureau.
Since 2016, Haniyeh has been living in exile in Qatar and Turkey, where he has maintained good relationships with various Palestinian factions. Recently, he met with political leaders in Iran and Turkey on diplomatic missions.
What Led to Tehran’s Selection for the Ismail’s Assassination?
Israel has a longstanding practice of carrying out covert targeted killings within Iran, particularly targeting individuals involved in the country’s nuclear development efforts.
The choice of Tehran for these assassinations is highly significant. Ismail Haniyeh has mainly lived in Qatar in recent years, a country with which Israel maintains unofficial relations. Despite the ongoing conflict, Israel has avoided targeting Hamas leaders within Qatar.
The ‘axis of resistance’ is a self-declared network of Iran-supported organizations and militias across the Middle East aimed at resisting Western presence, particularly focusing on Israel. This coalition represents not only a significant threat to Israel, US interests, and its allies but also a crucial element in Iran’s strategy to extend its influence across the region.
This network includes groups in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza, unified by the common goals of countering Western influence and confronting Israel. Iran supports these groups through funding, training, and supplying weapons. The US State Department estimated that Iran spent $700 million annually on supporting militias before sanctions impacted its revenues in 2019.
The Quds Force plays a crucial role in training these groups, providing both military and strategic support.
Since the October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas on Israel, the “axis of resistance” has been active on multiple fronts. The US has reported at least 55 attacks on its troops in Syria and Iraq since then, attributed to Iran and its proxies. Iran’s network has engaged in various militant actions, supporting Hamas and launching attacks that threaten regional stability.
Iran is currently investigating the incident, but the killing of the Hamas chief in its capital, right after the inauguration of its new President, is likely to be a significant embarrassment for the Islamic Republic.
