Ismail Haniyeh, the chairman of Hamas’s Political Bureau, was reportedly killed in a raid in Tehran, according to statements from both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hamas. Haniyeh, who had been living in exile in Qatar, was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and was seen with Iranian leaders during his visit.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant referred to Hamas leadership as living on “borrowed time” following the October 7 attack by Hamas, and a poster in his Tel Aviv office featured Haniyeh’s image. The IRGC’s statement claimed that Haniyeh and his Iranian bodyguard were killed in a raid by Israel, referred to by the IRGC as the “Zionist entity.” Hamas also confirmed Haniyeh’s death, stating he was killed at his Tehran residence. The exact circumstances of the assassination are still unfolding.
Who Was Ismail Haniyeh?
Ismail Haniyeh was a prominent figure within Hamas, having been involved with the organization since the late 1980s and enduring multiple arrests by Israeli forces. After his release from an Israeli prison in 1992, he was exiled to southern Lebanon but soon returned to Gaza. His rise within Hamas continued as he became head of the office of the movement’s spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was killed in an Israeli strike in 2004.
In 2006, Haniyeh led Hamas to an unexpected victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections and was appointed ‘Prime Minister of the State of Palestine.’ However, this victory was not recognized by the international community, including Israel and Fatah, leading to internal tensions and President Mahmoud Abbas’s dissolution of Haniyeh’s government in 2007. Despite this, Haniyeh continued to govern from Gaza.
Haniyeh stepped down as Hamas leader in Gaza in 2017, transitioning to the role of chairman of Hamas’s Political Bureau. He relocated to Qatar, where he managed Hamas’s political activities until his death.
The assassination of such a key figure in Tehran, immediately following the inauguration of Iran’s new President, presents a significant embarrassment for the Islamic Republic. Israel has yet to confirm or deny involvement in the assassination, a common practice for the country in such sensitive situations. Meanwhile, Iran is investigating the incident.