Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

Part of the Israel-Hamas war
Haniyeh in 2022
Date	31 July 2024 (2024-07-31)
Time	c. 02:00 IRST
Location	Tehran, Iran
Type	missile strike
Target	Ismail Haniyeh
Participants	Israeli Air Force (alleged, claimed by Iranian media)
Deaths	2, including Ismail Haniyeh

On 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in his residence in Tehran, Iran, in the early hours of the morning, after attending the inauguration ceremony for Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iranian and Hamas officials. An Iranian bodyguard was also killed. The cause of Haniyeh's death is under investigation by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Haniyeh was a prominent figure within Hamas since 1987. He previously served as the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority and as Hamas Chief in the Gaza Strip. In 2017, he was elected head of the Hamas Political Bureau.

Haniyeh was the highest-ranking Hamas political leader killed since the start of the Israel–Hamas war at the time of his death.

Background

Ismail Haniyeh

Haniyeh meeting with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei the day before his death

Ismail Haniyeh was the political leader of Hamas, of which he had been a prominent member of the movement since its creation in the wake of the First intifada against the Israeli occupation in 1987, and was elected head of Hamas's political bureau in 2017. Haniyeh had been living abroad in Qatar since leaving the Gaza Strip in 2019. The US Department of State designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2018.

Footage from his office in the Qatari capital of Doha showed Haniyeh celebrating the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel with other Hamas officials, before they prayed and praised God. According to The Telegraph, Haniyeh became the "public face" of the attack, publicly describing it as the start of a new era in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Haniyeh gave a televised address in which he cited threats to Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the Israeli blockade of Gaza, and plight of Palestinian refugees: "How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognise the rights of our people?" He went on to say that Israel, "which cannot protect itself in the face of resistors", could not provide protection for other Arab countries, and that "all the normalization agreements that you signed with that entity cannot resolve this (Palestinian) conflict." In April 2024, three of his sons and four of his grandchildren were killed in an air strike in the Gaza Strip.

The last known image of Haniyeh, reported by Iranian media, was taken on the day of his death, 30 July 2024 at a theme park exhibition in Tehran featuring "axis of resistance" landmarks. In the photograph, he is accompanied by Ziyad al-Nakhalah, leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and a group of men posing with a model of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Killings of Hamas officials

In response to the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israel stated it would target Hamas leaders. On 2 January 2024, Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri was assassinated in an airstrike in Beirut. On 13 July 2024, Israel attempted to assassinate Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, although it remains unclear if he was killed. Hours before Haniyeh's death, Israel announced the assassination of Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah leader in Beirut.

Assassination

The initial report of Ismail Haniyeh's killing emerged from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who provided limited specifics regarding the circumstances of his death, which it said occurred early on 31 July and indicated that the incident was under investigation. Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian the previous day. According to Hamas, he was killed by a "Zionist" airstrike on his residence. Israel declined to give any immediate comments. One of his bodyguards was also killed in the attack. Iranian media said the strike targeted "the special residences for war veterans in north Tehran".

Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese outlet with close ties to Hezbollah, reported that Haniyeh was hit by a missile fired from outside Iran.

Analysis

Avi Issacharoff, writing for Yedioth Ahronoth, wrote that Haniyeh's assassination is expected to prompt a response from Iran, which may carefully consider its actions given potential repercussions on its nuclear program. Meanwhile, Hamas continues to suffer significant setback and struggles to restore its reputation. Peter Ricketts, UK's former National Security Advisor, was quoted by the BBC as saying that the assassination was "a very powerful demonstration of Israel's ability to reach out right across the region."

CNN noted that Haniyeh's killing was "a significant blow" to Hamas, occurring "at a fraught time for the Middle East," and added that it "also throws into question the future of Israel-Hamas negotiations." Nick Paton Walsh, writing for the CNN, described the killing as humiliating for Iran and possibly for the IRGC, who might have been responsible for protecting Haniyeh. He noted that the assassination of two senior figures in Iranian-backed groups, Hezbollah and Hamas, within hours, challenges Iran's sovereignity and its image as a regional power capable of protecting its allies and raises questions about its potential response.

Some considered Haniyeh as a more "moderate and pragmatic" leader of Hamas, as compared with some hardliners. There was speculation by FirstPost whether his successor could be more uncompromising. The killing was considered a violation of Iran's sovereignty by Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief.

Responses

Palestine

President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing, calling it "a cowardly act and a serious escalation". He also called for the Palestinian people to unite.

Hamas stated that they mourned the death of Haniyeh, who it claimed was killed in "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran". Hamas senior official Mousa Abu Marzook said that Haniyeh's assassination was "a cowardly act that will not pass in vain". Another senior official, Sami Abu Zuhri, accused Israel of killing Haniyeh, stating that it aims to break the will of Hamas and the Palestinians. Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades called the assassination a "dangerous event" that will have "major repercussions across the entire region".

Palestinian Islamic Jihad: The group released a statement saying the group "mourns with the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation" for the death of Haniyeh.

Iran

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei held an emergency Supreme National Security Council meeting with top Iranian officials following the assassination. Khamenei later stated that "we consider it our duty to seek revenge for his [Haniyeh's] blood as he was 'martyred' in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned the assassination, stating that Haniyeh's "blood will never be wasted". President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the assassination and said Iran will defend its territorial integrity and make those responsible regret their actions. The government announced three days of public mourning for Haniyeh. An Iranian official said the killing, likely cause by a missile launched from outside Iran's airspace, was an "an act of aggression against Iran".

Israel

The Israel Defense Forces told CNN they "don't respond to reports in the foreign media". The IDF did not release new security guidelines for civilians. Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu praised the assassination, saying that it "makes the world a little better". Israel increased security measures at its diplomatic missions and Jewish sites worldwide. The security of Israel's delegation in the 2024 Summer Olympics was increased due to fears of potential attacks. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed troops at an Arrow missile air-defense battery, stating, "We don't want war, but we are preparing for all possibilities."

Other countries

Several governments considered the killing to be contrary to international law and international humanitarian law (IHL). This view was taken by Iraq, and Oman. The attack, which happened at Haniyeh's residence, was seen as a "cowardly" act by several Palestinian leaders, including president Mahmoud Abbas. The Qatari PM asked "How can mediation succeed when one side assassinates negotiator on other side?"

• Afghanistan: Chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid praised Haniyeh as an "intelligent and resourceful Muslim leader" who made significant sacrifices. He stated that the Taliban-run administration considers it both an Islamic and humanitarian duty to defend Hamas.
• China: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the assassination and said that Beijing is "deeply concerned that this incident may lead to further instability in the regional situation".
• Egypt: The foreign ministry said that the assassination of Haniyeh indicates that Israel has no political will for a ceasefire.
• Germany: The government has called for "maximum restraint" and to de-escalate.
• Iraq: The government strongly condemned the "aggressive" operation, calling it a violation of international law and a threat.
• Jordan: The foreign ministry condemned the killing and expressed condolences to the Palestinian nation and the relatives of those killed in the attack.
• Malaysia: The government condemned the assassination and called for dialogue.
• Pakistan: The government condemned the assassination and warned against Israeli "adventurism in the region".
• Qatar: Where Haniyeh regularly resided, strongly condemned the assassination describing it as a "heinous crime, a dangerous escalation, and a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law."
• Russia: Deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov condemned the assassination, calling it an "unacceptable political murder". Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin "strongly condemned" the killing that would hinder peace across the region.
• Sri Lanka: President Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the assassination.
• Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the killing of his ally and "brother" Haniyeh, stating that the attack was to disrupt the Palestinian cause, and that "Zionist barbarism will not reach its goals." The foreign ministry condemned the "heinous" assassination and blamed it on Israel, stating that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has no intention of achieving peace".
• United Kingdom: Former national security adviser called the operation "powerful demonstration of Israel's ability to reach out right across the region".
• United States: A White House spokesperson acknowledged that they had seen reports of Haniyeh's death but declined to provide any immediate comments. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he did not think a wider war in the Middle East was inevitable and further added that this will resolve in a diplomatic fashion, adding that the United States would help to defend Israel if it were attacked.

Islamist groups

• Hezbollah: The group offered condolences without directly attributing blame to Israel, suggesting that the incident would bolster the determination of Iran-aligned groups to confront Israel.
• Houthis: Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, president of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee condemned the attack, calling it "a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values".