Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (July 2024) |
| Date | 31 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Tehran, Iran |
| Deaths | 2, including Ismail Haniyeh |
On 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in his residence in Tehran, Iran, after attending the inauguration ceremony for president Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iranian and Hamas officials.[1] An Iranian security guard was also killed.[2] The cause of Haniyeh's death is under investigation by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[3]
Haniyeh was a prominent figure within Hamas since 1987. He previously served as the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority and as Hamas Chief in the Gaza Strip. In 2017, he was elected head of Hamas's political bureau. In 2018, the US Department of State designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.[4]
Haniyeh's targeted killing would represent the highest-ranking death of a Hamas political leader since the 7 October attacks led by Hamas.[5]
Background
Ismail Haniyeh
Ismail Haniyeh was widely considered the leader of Hamas. He was been a prominent member of the movement since 1987, and was elected head of Hamas's political bureau in 2017. The US Department of State designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2018. In April 2024, three of his sons and four of his grandchildren were killed in an air strike in Gaza.[6]
Killings of Hamas officials
In response to the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israel stated it would target Hamas leaders.[7] On 2 January 2024, Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri was assassinated in an airstrike in Beirut.[8] News of Haniyeh’s death emerged just hours after Israel announced the assassination of Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah leader in Beirut.[5]
Killing
The initial report of Ismail Haniyeh's killing emerged from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who provided limited specifics regarding the circumstances of his death, which it said occurred early on 31 July and indicated that the incident was under investigation. Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian the previous day.[1] According to Hamas, he was killed by a "Zionist" airstrike on his residence. Israel denied any immediate comments.[9] One of his bodyguards was also killed in the attack.[10]
Responses
Hamas
Hamas stated that they mourned the death of Haniyeh, who it claimed was killed in "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran".[11] Hamas senior official Mousa Abu Marzook said that Haniyeh's assassination was "a cowardly act that will not pass in vain".[12]
Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing, calling it "a cowardly act and a serious escalation". He also called for the Palestinian people to unite.[10][13] Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a statement saying the group "mourns with the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation" for the death of Haniyeh.[14]
Iran
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei held an emergency Supreme National Security Council meeting with top Iranian officials following the assassination.[2]
Israel
The Israel Defense Forces told CNN they "don't respond to reports in the foreign media".[15]
International
United States: A White House spokesperson acknowledged that they had seen reports of Haniyeh's death but declined to provide any immediate comments.[16] U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he did not think a wider war in the Middle East was inevitable, adding that the United States would help to defend Israel if it were attacked.[14]
Yemen (SRC): Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, leader of the Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee condemned the attack, calling it "a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values".[17]
References
- ^ a b Sewell, Abby (30 July 2024). "Hamas says its leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran by an Israeli airstrike". Associated Press. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz; Bergman, Ronen (31 July 2024). "Iran Says Haniyeh, a Top Hamas Leader, Was Killed". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Jeong, Andrew (31 July 2024). "Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the cause of Ismail Haniyeh's death is under investigation and that the results would be announced later in the day, Iranian state media reported". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Israel-Gaza war: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh says three sons killed in air strike". 10 April 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b Jones, Rory (31 July 2024). "Hamas Political Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed in Iran". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Israel-Gaza war: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh says three sons killed in air strike". 10 April 2024.
- ^ Jones, Rory (30 July 2024). "Hamas Political Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed in Iran". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Graeme Baker; Raffi Berg (2 January 2024). "Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri killed in Beirut blast". BBC Home. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Aggarwal, Mithil (31 July 2024). "Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Israeli airstrike in Iran, Hamas says". NBC. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Palestinian President Abbas 'strongly condemns' killing of Hamas chief Haniyeh". al-Arabiya. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Livingstone, Helen (31 July 2024). "Middle East crisis: Hamas says leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran – latest updates". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "إسرائيل تغتال هنية في طهران". وكـالـة مـعـا الاخـبـارية (in Arabic). 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Mahmoud Abbas condemns killing of Haniyeh, calls on Palestinians to unite". Al Jazeera. 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b Halabi, Einav (31 July 2024). "Assassination of Haniyeh called 'cowardly,' aimed at Iran'". Ynetnews. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Salman, Abeer (31 July 2024). "Israeli military declines to comment on death of Hamas political leader". CNN. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Yeung, Aditi Sangal, Sana Noor Haq, Antoinette Radford, Tori B. Powell, Kathleen Magramo, Jessie (30 July 2024). "Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in Tehran". CNN. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Reactions to the killing of Hamas's Ismail Haniyeh". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
