Hamas' political chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated by Israel, group confirms

The Palestinian fighter group Hamas on July 31 confirmed that the group's political chief Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed after their residence was targeted in Iran.

Ismail was in the Iranian capital to attend the swearing-in of Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian.

In a statement released on July 31, Hamas said Ismail was killed in "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran" on July 30. The group said an investigation is ongoing to find out more details about the attack.

"Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of the new (Iranian) president," the statement read.

"The assassination of leader Ismail Haniyeh is a cowardly act and will not go unanswered," Hamas political bureau member Musa Abu Marzuk said.

The death of the Hamas political chief was also confirmed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, saying Haniyeh's residence in Tehran was "hit" and he was killed along with a bodyguard.

The killing of Ismail at this juncture is significant given the people of Gaza saw him as a moderate leader who could further talk of negotiations leading to a ceasefire.

Ismail's killing is likely to cause huge ramifications leading to a further escalation of the conflict, experts have warned.
Ismail grew up in a refugee camp and left the Gaza Strip in 2019 and lived in Qatar. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to Haniyeh's killing.

Israel had vowed to eliminate Hamas and its leaders after the group's attack on October 7 last year that resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, while more than 200 others were taken captive.

Since then, Israel's assault in Gaza has killed at least 39,400 Palestinians and 90,996 injured.

In another development, on July 30, the Israeli forces struck a building in southern Beirut, killing the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah’s most senior military commander Fuad Shukr.

Israel said he was responsible for July 27 rocket strike on a football field at the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 children.

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hezbollah for the strike and warned the Lebanese militant group would “pay a hefty price."