Wikipedia

Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

On 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated after attending the inauguration ceremony for Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian in his residence in Tehran, Iran, according to Iranian and Hamas officials.[3][4] An Iranian bodyguard was also killed. The cause of Haniyeh's death is under investigation by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[5]

Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh
Part of the Israel–Hamas war
Haniyeh in 2022
Date31 July 2024
Timec. 02:00 IRST[1]
LocationTehran, Iran
TypeMissile strike
TargetIsmail Haniyeh
Participants Israeli Air Force (alleged, claimed by Iran and Hamas)[2]
Deaths2, including Ismail Haniyeh

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 the Hamas Political Bureau.

At the time of his death, Haniyeh was the highest-ranking Hamas political leader killed since the start of the Israel–Hamas war.[6]

Background

Ismail Haniyeh

 
Ismail Haniyeh (center) meeting with the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei (right) on 30 July.

Ismail Haniyeh was the political leader of Hamas, of which he had been a prominent member since its creation in the wake of the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation in 1987, and was elected head of Hamas's political bureau in 2017. Haniyeh had been living abroad in Qatar since leaving the Gaza Strip in 2019.[7] The US Department of State designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2018.[8]

Footage from his office in the Qatari capital of Doha showed Haniyeh celebrating the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel with other Hamas officials, before they prayed and praised God. According to The Telegraph, Haniyeh became the "public face" of the attack, publicly describing it as the start of a new era in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.[9][10] Haniyeh gave a televised address in which he cited alleged threats to Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the Israeli blockade of Gaza, and plight of Palestinian refugees:[11] "How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognise the rights of our people?"[11] He went on to say that Israel, "which cannot protect itself in the face of resistors", could not provide protection for other Arab countries, and that "all the normalization agreements that you signed with that entity cannot resolve this [Palestinian] conflict."[12][13] In April 2024, three of his sons and four of his grandchildren were killed in an air strike in the Gaza Strip.[8]

The last known image of Haniyeh, reported by Iranian media, was taken on 30 July, a day before his death, at a theme park exhibition in Tehran featuring "axis of resistance" landmarks. In the photograph, he is accompanied by Ziyad al-Nakhalah, leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and a group of men posing with a model of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.[14]

Killings of Hamas officials

In response to the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israel stated it would target Hamas leaders.[6] On 2 January 2024, Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri was assassinated in an airstrike in Beirut.[15] On 13 July 2024, Israel attempted to assassinate Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, although it remains unclear if he was killed.[16] Hours before Haniyeh's death, Israel announced the assassination of Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah leader in Beirut.[6]

Assassination

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.[3] According to Hamas, he was killed by a "Zionist" airstrike on his residence. Israel declined to give any immediate comments.[17] One of his bodyguards was also killed in the attack.[18] Iranian media said the strike targeted "the special residences for war veterans in north Tehran".[1]

Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese outlet with close ties to Hezbollah, reported that Haniyeh was hit by a missile fired from outside Iran.[9] Haaretz however described the assassination as a drone strike.[19] Some local sources and Israeli Channel 12 claimed that the assassination was indeed a missile strike but was launched from somewhere within Iran.[20]

Funeral

Khamenei will lead the prayer for Haniyeh.[21]

Reactions

 
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Palestine

President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing, calling it "a cowardly act and a serious escalation". He also called for the Palestinian people to unite.[18][22]

Hamas stated that they mourned the death of Haniyeh, who it claimed was killed in "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran".[23] Hamas senior official Mousa Abu Marzook said that Haniyeh's assassination was "a cowardly act that will not pass in vain".[24] Another senior official, Sami Abu Zuhri, accused Israel of killing Haniyeh, stating that it aims to break the will of Hamas and the Palestinians.[25] Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades called the assassination a "dangerous event" that will have "major repercussions across the entire region".[26] A few hours later, the al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for a shooting and stabbing attack near Beit Einun, north of Hebron, which seriously wounded an Israeli man. They stated the attack was in retaliation for the assassination of Haniyeh and indicated more assaults would occur in the Hebron area.[27]

Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a statement saying that it "mourns with the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation" for the death of Haniyeh.[28]

Iran

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei held an emergency Supreme National Security Council meeting with top Iranian officials following the assassination.[29] Khamenei later stated that "With this action, the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime prepared the ground for harsh punishment for itself, and we consider it our duty to seek revenge for his blood as he was martyred in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran".[30] Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned the assassination, stating that Haniyeh's "blood will never be wasted".[31] President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the assassination and said Iran will defend its territorial integrity and make those responsible regret their actions.[3] The government announced three days of public mourning for Haniyeh.[32] An Iranian official said the killing was an "an act of aggression against Iran".[33][34]

Tehran Stock Exchange total market value fell 1.9%.[35] Iran's chief prosecuter warned media people against "spreading rumours.[36]

Masih Alinejad, Hamed Esmaeilion and Reza Pahlavi called the killing of Haniyeh the sign of iniquity of the Iranian regime.[37][38][39]

Israel

The Israel Defense Forces told CNN they "don't respond to reports in the foreign media".[40] The IDF did not release new security guidelines for civilians.[4] Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu praised the assassination, saying that it "makes the world a little better",[41][25] and that killing him was "the right way to cleanse the world from this filth."[42][43] Israel increased security measures at its diplomatic missions and Jewish sites worldwide.[44] The security of Israel's delegation in the 2024 Summer Olympics was increased due to fears of potential attacks.[45] Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed troops at an Arrow missile air-defense battery, stating, "We don't want war, but we are preparing for all possibilities."[46]

Other countries

Several governments considered the killing to be contrary to international law and international humanitarian law. This view was particularly taken by Iraq,[47] and Oman.[48] The Iraqi government strongly condemned the "aggressive" operation, calling it a violation of international law and a threat.[49] The Afghan government's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid praised Haniyeh as an "intelligent and resourceful Muslim leader" who made significant sacrifices. He stated that the Taliban-run administration considers it both an Islamic and humanitarian duty to defend Hamas.[50] Egypt's foreign ministry said that the assassination of Haniyeh indicates that Israel has no political will for a ceasefire.[51] Qatar, where Haniyeh regularly resided, strongly condemned the assassination describing it as a "heinous crime, a dangerous escalation, and a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law."[52] Its prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani asked "how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?"[53][54] The Jordanian foreign ministry condemned the killing and expressed condolences to the Palestinian nation and the relatives of those killed in the attack.[55] In Lebanon, Hezbollah offered condolences without directly attributing blame to Israel, suggesting that the incident would bolster the determination of Iran-aligned groups to confront Israel.[56] In Yemen, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, president of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee, condemned the attack, calling it "a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values".[25]

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the assassination and said that Beijing is "deeply concerned that this incident may lead to further instability in the regional situation".[57] In the United States, a White House spokesperson acknowledged that they had seen reports of Haniyeh's death but declined to provide any immediate comments.[58] U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he did not think a wider war in the Middle East was inevitable and further added that this will resolve in a diplomatic fashion, adding that the United States would assist Israel if it were attacked,[28] and reiterated "unwavering commitment" to the security of Israel.[59] The German government called for "maximum restraint" and de-escalation.[60] The Malaysian government condemned the assassination and called for dialogue.[61] The Pakistani government condemned the assassination and warned against Israeli "adventurism in the region".[62] Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov condemned the assassination, calling it an "unacceptable political murder".[63] Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin "strongly condemned" the killing that would hinder peace across the region.[64] The President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, condemned the assassination.[65] The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, condemned the killing of his ally and "brother" Haniyeh, stating that the attack was to disrupt the Palestinian cause, and that "Zionist barbarism will not reach its goals."[66] The Turkish foreign ministry condemned the "heinous" assassination, stating that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has no intention of achieving peace".[67]

Netherland's far-right politician Geert Wilders congratulated the assassination, writing: "Good riddance!".[68]

A spokesman for the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, declared:

The EU's principled position is to reject extrajudicial executions and to support the rule of law, including in the context of international criminal justice. No country, nor any nation stands to gain from further escalation in the Middle East.[69]

Media and analysts

Peter Ricketts, UK's former National Security Advisor, was quoted by the BBC as saying that the assassination was "a very powerful demonstration of Israel's ability to reach out right across the region."[70]

CNN noted that Haniyeh's killing was "a significant blow" to Hamas, occurring "at a fraught time for the Middle East," and added that it "also throws into question the future of Israel–Hamas negotiations."[71] Nick Paton Walsh, writing for CNN, described the killing as humiliating for Iran and possibly for the IRGC, who might have been responsible for protecting Haniyeh. He noted that the assassination of two senior figures in Iranian-backed groups, Hezbollah and Hamas, within hours, challenges Iran's sovereignity and its image as a regional power capable of protecting its allies and raises questions about its potential response.[72]

The Jerusalem Post described Haniyeh's death as a "major setback" for Iranian-backed terrorism, adding that "while some are already viewing the killing of the Hamas terror leader as an escalation, the reality is that his death is a small amount of justice for the crimes of October 7."[73] Avi Issacharoff, writing for Yedioth Ahronoth, wrote that Haniyeh's assassination is expected to prompt a response from Iran, which may carefully consider its actions given potential repercussions on its nuclear program. Issacharoff considers that Hamas continues to suffer significant setbacks.[74]

The killing was considered a violation of Iran's sovereignty by Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief.[75]

El Pais noted that Israel blames Iran as responsible for the instability in the middle east. As Tehran supports the economic, military, and strategy of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, the assassination is sending the double message of acting against Hamas and, furthermore, doing it in Iran.[76]

See also

References

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  75. ^ "Ismail Haniyeh's assassination, grave violation of international law and sovereignty: MAHAR". thesun.my.
  76. ^ Vega, Luis de (31 July 2024). "Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' top political leader, assassinated in Iran". EL PAÍS English.
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