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The former Prime Minister of Palestine and political head of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh has been assassinated in a targeted attack. Here is what you need to know about him and his assassination.
His Early life and raising to the post of the head of Hamas political wing:
Ismail Haniyeh was born on 8 May, 1963 in a refugee camp. He was a Palestinian. He graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza, where he became involved with Hamas. Subsequently, through promotions, he rose to become the head of the political wing of Hamas. He was married and had 13 children, 3 of whom died in 2024.
In 2006, the second legislative elections were held in Gaza, where Ismail Haniyeh became the Prime Minister of Gaza. However, the then-president dismissed him from office in 2007 due to conflicts between Fatah and Hamas. But he continued to act as prime minister.
He acted as the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip from 2006 to 2017. In 2017, he was elected as the head of the political wing of Hamas. From 2017, he was living in Qatar. He was put on the global terrorist list by the US in 2018.
In May 2024, arrest warrants for Ismail Haniyeh and other Palestinian leaders were requested by the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan for the ongoing investigation of war crimes during the Israel-Hamas war.
His Assassination:
He had been living in Qatar since 2017. He was invited to the inauguration ceremony of Mansour Pezeshkian, the newly elected president of Iran. After attending the ceremony, an airstrike was made on his family house in Tehran where he died along with his bodyguard.
After his assassination, all countries are giving their responses. Iran, Turkey, China, Russia, Qatar, and Malaysia condemned the attack in the strongest words possible, and some stated that this is a direct violation of international laws.
Iran’s foreign ministry said, “his blood will not be wasted.” Iran claimed that Israel made this strike.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a statement saying Tehran will defend its territorial integrity and dignity.
Here’s the statement released by the state media: “Today, dear Iran is mourning its sharer of sorrows and joys, the constant and proud companion of the path of resistance, the brave leader of the Palestinian resistance, the martyr of al-Quds, Haj Ismail Haniyeh. Yesterday I raised his victorious hand and today I have to bury him on my shoulders.”
China also condemned this attack. A few days earlier, Hamas and Fatah leaders, along with all other parties, had met in China where a deal was signed to form a unity government.
Hezbollah also condemned his killing. Houthis also condemned this attack, calling it a “terrorist crime”.