Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh
Part of the Israel–Hamas war and 2024 Iran–Israel conflict
Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh is located in Tehran
Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh
Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh (Tehran)
LocationTehran, Iran
Coordinates35°49′10″N 51°24′57″E / 35.81944°N 51.41583°E / 35.81944; 51.41583
Date31 July 2024
~2:00 a.m.[1] (IRST)
TargetIsmail Haniyeh
Attack type
Disputed[2][3][4]
DeathsIsmail Haniyeh
Wassim Abu Shaaban
Accused Israel

On 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated along with his personal bodyguard in the Iranian capital Tehran by an apparent Israeli attack.[5] Haniyeh was killed in his accommodation in a military-run guesthouse after attending the inauguration ceremony for Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.[6] Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, condemned this assassination and said that Haniyeh's "blood will never be wasted".[7]

The cause of Haniyeh's death is under investigation by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).[8] Differing reports emerged as to how he was killed, ranging from a missile strike[5] to a remotely detonated explosive device previously hidden in his bedroom at the IRGC-run guesthouse.[9] According to analysts, the assassination exposed critical security flaws.[10][11] The investigation has led to the arrest of over two dozen individuals, including senior intelligence and military officials, as well as staff from the guesthouse.[10]

Haniyeh was a prominent figure within Hamas since the organization's founding in 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.[12]

  1. ^ "Hamas says leader killed in Israel strike in Iran". France 24. 31 July 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  2. ^ "فوری | اطلاعیه شماره 3 سپاه پاسداران درباره ترور اسماعیل هنیه؛ عملیات تروریستی با شلیک پرتابه کوتاه برد با سر جنگی حدود ۷ کیلوگرمی از خارج محدوده استقراری اقامت میهمانان صورت گرفته". اعتمادآنلاین. 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  3. ^ Motamedi, Maziar. "Thousands mourn Hamas leader Haniyeh in Iran amid calls for revenge". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  4. ^ "گزارش خبرگزاری فارس از جزئیات جدید ترور اسماعیل هنیه؛ محل اقامت ایشان با پرتابه هوا به زمین مورد اصابت قرار گرفته". Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b Sewell, Abby (31 July 2024). "Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in Iran by an alleged Israeli strike, threatening escalation". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  6. ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Hafezi, Parisa (31 July 2024). "Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran, Hamas says". Reuters. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Iran's Foreign Ministry says Haniyeh's 'blood will never be wasted'". Al Jazeera. 31 July 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  8. ^ Jeong, Andrew (31 July 2024). "Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the cause of Ismail Haniyeh's death is under investigation and that the results would be announced later in the day, Iranian state media reported". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  9. ^ Bergman, Ronen; Mazzetti, Mark; Fassihi, Farnaz (4 August 2024) [August 1, 2024]. "Bomb Smuggled Into Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed Hamas Leader". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz (3 August 2024). "Iran Arrests Dozens in Search for Suspects in Killing of Hamas Leader". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Jones, Rory (31 July 2024). "Hamas Political Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed in Iran". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.