Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh has been killed in the Iranian capital, Tehran, the Palestinian militant group said on Wednesday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said he was targeted at his residence while visiting Iran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri accused Israel of the assassination and called it “a grave escalation” in a comment to Reuters. Israel has yet to comment on the killing.
It comes less than a day after Israel attacked the Lebanese capital Beirut in what its forces said was a targeted strike on Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
Israel had vowed to eliminate Haniyeh and other leaders of Hamas in response to the group’s October 7 attack that left 1,200 dead and saw some 250 others taken hostage.
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01 August 2024
A US spy plane was spotted flying off the coasts of Syria, Lebanon and Israel for over four hours following Israel’s missile strike on Beirut and the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday.
The navigation data, documented by flight-tracking service FlightRadar24, was verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency, Sanad. Images showed an EP-3E Aries II Orion arriving on the Israeli coast from Chania airport on the Greek island of Crete.
The aircraft gathers tactical intelligence and makes it available to commanders almost instantly, Al Jazeera noted.
Iran’s acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, has sent a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres warning that Tehran is “determined to take every necessary measure to defend its national security” following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a missile strike.
Bagheri called Haniyeh's killing an “act of terror” and “just another manifestation of Israel’s decades-long pattern of terrorism and sabotage targeting Palestinians and other supporters and sympathizers of the Palestinian cause.”
While Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel, West Jerusalem has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the strike.
Top Iranian officials will meet representatives of Tehran’s regional allies from Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen on Thursday, Reuters has reported. The group will discuss how to retaliate against Israel for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, five sources have told the outlet.
Representatives from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthis, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and some Iraqi resistance groups will attend, the sources said.
A “thorough assessment” will be made to “find the best and most effective way to retaliate against the Zionist regime (Israel),” a senior Iranian official with direct knowledge of the meeting said. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being involved in Haniyeh’s killing.
According to a New York Times report, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has given an order to “directly strike Israel” in retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Times cited three unnamed Iranian officials that had been briefed on the directive.
Khamenei issued the order at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday, soon after Haniyeh’s death was announced, the report said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asked the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, for his mediation services to avoid further escalation in the Middle East, CNN Arabic has reported, citing sources.
According to the network, Blinken asked Al Thani to convey a message to Iran and Hezbollah not to respond to the elimination of Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The Qatari leader reportedly agreed.
The IDF has claimed to have killed Mohammed Deif, commander of the Hamas military wing, in a strike in southern Gaza. The official was targeted in an attack on July 13, but his death was not confirmed at the time, unlike the elimination of Rafa Salameh, leader of Hamas forces in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.
Beijing hopes for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday in response to a question regarding the killing of Ismail Haniyeh.
“China earnestly looks forward to all Palestinian factions, on the basis of internal reconciliation, creating an independent Palestinian state as soon as possible,” Lin Jian said during a regular press briefing.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has appealed to “all parties” in the Middle East to avoid “escalatory actions” that could lead to an all-out war in the region.
“Right now, the path that the region is on is toward more conflict, more violence, more suffering, more insecurity. And it is crucial that we break the cycle. And that starts with a ceasefire,” Blinken said on Thursday, as assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was being laid to rest.
The funeral for assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is being held in Tehran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is leading the prayers, according to Iran’s state-run PressTV news network. Haniyeh’s funeral procession will be held from the University of Tehran towards the capital’s Azadi Square, news agency Mehr said.
Temporary flight restrictions have been imposed in Tehran ahead of the ceremony. Flight movements are being restricted within a 2-kilometer radius centered at the University of Tehran, and will be in place until 10:30 a.m. local time (2:30 a.m. ET on Thursday), according to the notice issued by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization.
Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations has said Beijing “firmly opposes and strongly condemns”, Haniyeh’s killing, calling it “a blatant attempt to sabotage peace efforts.”
Cong stressed that “China is deeply worried about an exacerbation of the upheaval in the region that this incident may trigger.”
“The Middle East situation is hanging by a thread, much to the concern of the international community,” he warned at the UN Security Council briefing.
Iran’s permanent representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani has blamed the United States for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
“This act could not have occurred without the authorization and intelligence support of the US,” Iravani wrote in a letter sent to the head of the UN Security Council. “The responsibility of the United States as their strategic ally, and main supporters of the Israeli regime in the region cannot be overlooked in this horrific crime,” he added.
On Wednesday US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said that “the United States was not aware of or involved in the apparent death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.”
Russia “resolutely condemns” the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Dmitry Polyansky, Moscow’s deputy permanent representative to the UN Security Council has said.
Speaking at a UNSC briefing on the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday, Polyansky stressed that “such attempts to drag Iran into a regional confrontation tend to destabilize the already highly charged atmosphere in the region.”
“Those behind this political assassination must have realized how dangerous the ramifications could be for the entire region. It strikes a serious blow primarily for the mediated negotiations between Hamas and Israel, aimed at a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as Haniyeh was a key contributor to these talks.”
31 July 2024
Israel is in an “existential war” against Iran and its allies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address on Wednesday evening. He spoke of the “crushing blows” Israel has inflicted against the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah in recent weeks – including the airstrike on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah and Tuesday’s attack on Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut – but did not bring up the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Israel will “exact a heavy price for any aggression” from abroad, Netanyahu said, but warned the nation that “challenging days” lie ahead.
Russia has convened an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Moscow’s deputy permanent representative to the organization, Dmitry Polyansky, has said.
The meeting will be held at 4pm New York time, at the request of Iran, seconded by China, Algeria and Russia, Polyansky said.
Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN has vowed that Tehran will respond to the murder of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh by carrying out “special operations” which will be “harder and intended to instill deep regret in the perpetrator.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has accused the US of being complicit in the “heinous” assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, noting in a statement on Telegram that Washington has been a “supporter and accomplice of the Zionist regime in the continuation of the occupation and genocide of Palestinians.”
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has expressed concern over the news of Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination, warning that such a strike “increases the risk of a very serious escalation.”
“This [attack] is obviously in line with Israel’s strategy to eliminate Hamas leaders,” Cassis told the Swiss newspaper Blick. “But the international consequences should not be underestimated, much less forgotten,” he added.
The Iranian government has raised the “red flag of revenge” over the Jamkaran Mosque in the city of Qom following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
A video showing the raising of the flag appears to have been filmed by an Iranian TV channel and was shared on social media by the Clash Report.
Previously, the flag, which symbolizes both unjustly spilled blood and a call to avenge a murdered person in Shiite culture, was raised following the bombings at a cemetery in the city of Kerman in January and after the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
The official farewell ceremony for Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh will be held in Tehran on Thursday, August 1, the Palestinian group has announced.
Haniyeh’s body will then be transported to the capital of Qatar, Doha, on Thursday evening and he will be laid to rest on Friday in the Qatari city of Lusail.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Washington was not aware of the planned assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, and was not involved in his killing.
Blinken stressed the importance of achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, stating that it is “vitally important to help end the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza” and to get the hostages home.
Iraq has also spoken out against the assassination of the Hamas political chief, describing such “aggressive operations” as a “flagrant violation of international laws and a threat” to regional security and stability.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “expresses its full solidarity with the Palestinian people and their leadership in these difficult moments,” and called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and prevent repeated attacks on and violations of the sovereignty of states.
Egypt has strongly condemned the murder of Ismail Haniyeh, calling it a “dangerous escalation” which threatens to spark a large-scale confrontation in the region, with serious security implications.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry released a statement warning Israel against the “policy of assassinations, the violation of the sovereignty of other states and the incitement of conflict in the region.”
Pakistan has responded to Haniyeh’s killing by raising concerns over Israel’s “growing adventurism” in the Middle East. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry warned that Israel’s latest actions constitute a “dangerous escalation in an already volatile region and undermine efforts for peace.”
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh puts into question further negotiations between Israel and Hamas, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Than has said
The premier, who has acted as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations, questioned how “mediation can succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator of the other side.”
He insisted that peace needs “serious partners and a global stance against the disregard for human life.”
Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, has warned that the killing of Ismail Haniyeh will “shift the battle to new dimensions” and will have “major repercussions across the entire region.”
The group claimed that Israel had “miscalculated” by expanding the scope of aggression and assassinating resistance leaders in various arenas, as well as violating the sovereignty of regional states.
“The enemy will pay for its aggression with its own blood in Gaza, the West Bank, and within its borders, wherever our fighters reach by God’s will,” the Qassam Brigades said in a statement.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has declined to comment directly on the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh but doubted that it had made war inevitable, claiming that there is always room for “opportunities and diplomacy.”
He also said Washington would help to defend Israel if a broader conflict were to break out in the Middle East, but noted that the first priority for the US was de-escalating tensions in the region.
Responsibility for the murder of Ismail Haniyeh lies with both Israel and the US, Hamas representative in Lebanon Mahmoud Takh has told RIA Novosti.
“The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran is a cowardly act that was carried out after receiving the green light from the US,” Takh told the Russian news agency.
Iran has declared three days of mourning following the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, according to media reports.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian has condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, stating that Beijing is “deeply concerned that this incident may lead to further instability in the regional situation.”
“Gaza should achieve a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire as soon as possible,” Lin stressed in a statement.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed a “harsh and painful response” from Iran and its allies to Haniyeh’s assassination. The group said in a statement that the murder of the Hamas leader has shown that “the Zionist gang of criminals, murderers, and terrorists” has no regard for international rules and regulations and does “not shy away from committing any criminal action to cover up its shameful failures of nine months of the war in Gaza.”
Malaysia has responded to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh by stating that it “unequivocally condemns all acts of violence, including targeted assassination.” It called on all “peace loving nations” to join in denouncing such acts.
The Malaysian Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement that Haniyeh’s murder “underscores the urgent need for de-escalation and reinforces the necessity for all parties to engage in constructive dialogue and pursue peaceful resolutions.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry has “strongly condemned” the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. It is “obvious that the organizers of this political assassination were aware of the dangerous consequences this action would have for the entire region,” the ministry said.
Moscow added that it has no doubt that Haniyeh’s murder will have an extremely negative impact on the course of indirect contact between Hamas and Israel. It also urged all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from taking steps towards escalation and provoking a large-scale armed confrontation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the “treacherous assassination” of his “brother” Haniyeh as an act of “vileness” that aims to intimidate the Palestinians, disrupt their cause and break their will.
”May God have mercy on my brother Ismail Haniyeh, fallen in martyrdom after this odious attack,” the Turkish leader wrote on X, strongly denouncing what he described as “Zionist barbarity” and stressing that it will not achieve its goals.
Erdogan vowed to continue supporting the Palestinian cause and work towards the establishment of a “free, sovereign and independent State of Palestine” with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel has boosted security for its athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, according to reports.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that Israel will be “severely punished” for the murder of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
“We consider it our duty to avenge his blood in this bitter and difficult incident that happened in the territory of the Islamic Republic” Khamenei said in a statement shared by Iranian media.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has described the assassination of Haniyeh as “despicable,” and has apparently blamed Israel for the act. The ministry suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “no intention of achieving peace,” and warned that the region could soon face a much larger conflict unless the world takes action to “stop Israel.”
Jordan has condemned the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran, with the country’s Foreign Ministry calling it a “violation of international law and international humanitarian law.” It added that the killing had been an “escalatory crime that will push towards more tension and chaos in the region.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has ordered Israeli ministers not to comment on the killing of Haniyeh, according to Israel’s KAN news outlet
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the country will “defend its territorial integrity, dignity, honor, and pride, and will make the terrorist occupiers regret their cowardly act,” local media reported.
Haniyeh was killed by an “airborne guided projectile” that hit a residence for military veterans in the north of Tehran, according to Iranian media. The attack reportedly took place at about 2am local time.
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned “in the strongest terms” the assassination of Haniyeh, accusing Israel of “the reckless… behavior of continuously targeting civilians in Gaza” that “will lead to the region slipping into chaos and undermine the chances of peace.”
In March, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israeli forces had killed a ‘number four’ in Hamas, and that it is just a matter of time before other group leaders meet the same fate. He was likely referring to Saleh al-Arouri, who was killed in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut in early January. In his statement, the prime minister “apparently” confirmed that his country was behind al-Arouri’s assassination, The Times of Israel wrote.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov believes that what happened will have a negative impact on negotiations to end hostilities in Gaza.
“This is an absolutely unacceptable political murder, and it will lead to the further escalation of tensions,” he told RIA Novosti.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the killing as “a cowardly act and a dangerous development,” according to a statement from Wafa news agency.
Haniyeh was the exiled political chief of Hamas; he had been living in Qatar. He was the face of the militant group’s attempts at international diplomacy and led efforts to negotiate the ceasefire during Israel’s war in Gaza. He is the most senior Hamas official to have been killed since the start of the conflict.