Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence in Tehran, Iran, on July 31, 2024, according to separate statements from Hamas and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. The incident occurred shortly after Haniyeh attended the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president, Massoud Pezeshkian.Hamas described the attack as a ‘treacherous Zionist raid’ on Haniyeh’s residence, directly blaming Israel for the assassination. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed in the attack, stating that the cause is under investigation.Israeli involvement has not been officially confirmed, but analysts on Iranian state television have pointed to Israel’s previous vows to target Hamas leadership following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages.The assassination comes at a critical time, potentially derailing ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to broker a temporary cease-fire and hostage-release deal between Hamas and Israel. Hamas officials have described the attack as a ‘serious escalation’ that ‘will not go unpunished’.Haniyeh, who had been living in exile since leaving the Gaza Strip in 2019, served as the leader of Hamas’ political bureau since 2017. His death marks a significant blow to the organization’s leadership structure.The incident has further heightened tensions in the region, coming shortly after reported Israeli strikes in Beirut that targeted a high-ranking Hezbollah commander. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 39,360 Palestinian deaths and 90,900 wounded since October 2023, according to recent reports.
Key points
- Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence in Tehran on July 31, 2024.
- Hamas and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed Haniyeh’s death, with Hamas blaming Israel for the attack.
- The assassination could potentially derail ongoing peace negotiations and cease-fire efforts.
- The incident has further escalated tensions in the Middle East, following recent attacks in Israel and Lebanon.
Contradictions👾While most sources report that Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence, one source mentions that he was killed by a ‘direct missile strike on his body’.
This discrepancy in the method of attack has not been clarified in other reports.
