In a significant development, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly killed in Tehran on Thursday morning, as reported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard-affiliated Tasnim news agency. As the leader of the political bureau of Hamas, Haniyeh had a substantial influence within the organization, notably assuming the role of Palestinian Prime Minister after the Hamas-Fatah split.
Following the announcement of his death, Hamas immediately accused Israel of orchestrating the assassination. This accusation resonates with historical patterns, as Israel has previously engaged in targeted killings of senior Hamas officials. Notably, in 2004, Israel assassinated Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas, holding him responsible for terrorist attacks that resulted in numerous casualties.
Haniyeh was one of the prominent figures for whom ICC Prosecutor Karim AA Khan sought an arrest warrant earlier this year concerning crimes related to the October 7 attacks. Though Israel has refrained from commenting on this specific assassination, former Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz stated in 2006 that Haniyeh would not be “immune” from such actions if Hamas continued its terror activities.
As this is a developing story, further details are awaited and may emerge in the coming hours and days. For more information, you can visit JURIST.