Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed in Iranian Capital

New Delhi: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed in a targeted attack on his residence in Tehran, Iran, as confirmed by the Palestinian group today. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, with Hamas describing the event as a ‘treacherous Zionist raid.’ Haniyeh was in the Iranian capital to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

In an official statement, Hamas expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their leader. They referred to him as “Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh,” and claimed he died in a “Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran.” The Iranian Revolutionary Guards corroborated the account, noting that Haniyeh’s residence was indeed targeted, resulting in the deaths.

Hamas accused Israel of being behind the assassination, characterizing it as a ‘grave escalation’ aimed at destabilizing the group. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, criticized the attack, alleging it was an effort to ‘break the will of Hamas.’ Israeli Minister Amichay Eliyahu commented on the incident via the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), stating, “This is the right way to clean the world from this filth.”

The assassination occurs amid a backdrop of heightened tensions following a major incident on October 7. In the aftermath, Israel vowed to target Haniyeh and dismantle Hamas’s leadership. Haniyeh had been the head of the Hamas political bureau since 2017 and was noted for his diplomatic relations with various Palestinian factions. His death could further intensify the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with potential ramifications for regional stability.