The political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, has been assassinated in Tehran at the age of 62, in what the Palestinian group describes as “a treacherous Zionist attack on his residence.” Haniyeh, who briefly served as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority in 2006, was killed early Wednesday morning along with a bodyguard when the home he was staying in was targeted. This event occurs nearly ten months into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Haniyeh was in Tehran to participate in the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, the day prior. Over the years, Haniyeh had become a central figure in the Palestinian resistance movement and had long been viewed as a target by Israel. Although Israel did not officially claim responsibility for the assassination, an Israeli minister celebrated Haniyeh’s death in a social media post.
Born in the Shati refugee camp near Gaza City, Haniyeh’s parents were displaced from Asqalan (now known as Ashkelon) during the establishment of Israel in 1948. As a young man, Haniyeh was an active student at the Islamic University of Gaza City, where he studied Arabic literature and became a member of the Islamic Student Bloc, often seen as a precursor to Hamas.
When the First Intifada (uprising) against the Israeli occupation broke out in December 1987, Haniyeh participated in the protests, and Hamas was founded the same year with Haniyeh among the younger members. He was imprisoned by Israel several times and was deported to Lebanon in 1992 along with other Hamas members. One year later, he returned to Gaza following the Oslo Accords and became a close advisor to Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas.
Haniyeh’s status within the Palestinian movement rose when Hamas won the majority of votes in the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, a surprise to many, including the United States, which had pushed for the elections. However, Haniyeh’s term as Prime Minister was short-lived, as President Mahmoud Abbas dissolved his government, leading to Hamas forming an independent government in Gaza in 2007.
Under Hamas’s governance, Gaza has been subjected to a blockade by Israel and Egypt, which has lasted for 17 years. In 2017, Haniyeh was appointed as the head of Hamas’s political bureau and led the group’s diplomatic activities from various locations, including Turkey and Doha. Haniyeh was recognized as a pragmatic leader who maintained positive relations with Palestinian leaders from various factions.
The assassination of Haniyeh marks the latest killing of a prominent Hamas leader, with many of his close relatives, including three of his sons and four grandchildren, having been killed in Gaza. He has stated that 60 of his relatives have died in the past ten months due to the ongoing conflicts.
Analysts note that such targeted killings by Israel historically have not resulted in Hamas’s eradication, and Haniyeh’s death may particularly strengthen the group’s resistance against the Israeli occupation. Israel faces a complex and enduring conflict, where assassinations and military operations rarely lead to a lasting solution, as these individuals represent a broader resistance to the occupation.