Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, Iran. Iranian state media, Press TV, reported this on Wednesday, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
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Hamas quickly issued a statement, saying Haniyeh died in an Israeli attack on his home in Tehran. This happened after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president. The exact time of Haniyeh's death is not clear. Iran’s new president took office on Tuesday.
This event comes at a very tense time for the Middle East. There are growing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, raising fears of a larger regional conflict. Hamas is also fighting Israel in Gaza.
Haniyeh, 62, was a longtime leader of Hamas. He was born in a refugee camp near Gaza City and joined Hamas in the late 1980s during the First Intifada. He rose through the ranks, joining a secret leadership group in 2004. In 2006, he became the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority. By 2017, he was the chief of Hamas. The United States labeled him a “specially designated global terrorist” soon after.
Over the years, Haniyeh took part in peace talks with former US President Jimmy Carter. He also met with leaders like the Emir of Qatar and a Chinese diplomat earlier this year.
In April, Israeli airstrikes killed three of Haniyeh’s sons and four of his grandchildren. Haniyeh, based in Qatar at the time, said their deaths wouldn’t affect the ceasefire and hostage talks. “Attacking my kids won’t force Hamas to back down,” he said.
