Hamas has announced that the group is in the process of selecting a new leader following the assassination of its political chief, Ismail Haniyeh. According to a statement from Hamas published on social media on Sunday, leadership has begun a comprehensive consultation process within the movement’s hierarchy and advisory institutions. The statement reads, “After the martyrdom of our leader, we have initiated a process to choose a new leader.” It further emphasizes that Haniyeh’s death will only strengthen Hamas and the Palestinian resistance in their ongoing struggle.
Haniyeh was killed in an operation in Tehran, which Iranian officials attribute to Israel. The attack occurred early on Wednesday, and Haniyeh’s bodyguard was also killed in the same action. Iran, along with groups allied with it in the Middle East, has vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s death. However, Israel, which has been accused by Hamas, Iran, and others of orchestrating the attack, has not directly commented on the incident.
The assassination took place while Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. After a burial ceremony in Tehran led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Haniyeh’s body was sent to Doha for interment. Haniyeh was residing in Qatar, where he participated in negotiations with Israel and other stakeholders, including Egypt and the United States, regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, which has been under intense pressure since the onset of the war in October.
As Iran and its allies prepare their response to Haniyeh’s assassination, tensions in the Middle East are rising with fears of a regional war. The United States, Israel’s main ally, has announced plans to deploy additional warships and fighter jets to the region. Several Western countries, including the U.S. and the U.K., have also urged their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, where Hamas’ ally, Hezbollah, is based.
Haniyeh’s assassination occurred shortly after an Israeli operation that resulted in the death of Hezbollah’s military leader in Beirut, prompting vows of retaliation from Iran and the so-called “axis of resistance,” which includes armed groups backed by Iran. Iran has expressed expectations that Hezbollah will strike deeper into Israel, moving beyond solely military targets.
When asked whether he believed Iran would withdraw after the attack in Tehran, U.S. President Joe Biden replied, “I hope so. I don’t know.” Additionally, the Israeli military announced early on Sunday that around 30 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon toward Israel, most of which were intercepted, with no damage reported. This attack followed Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon the night before, according to Lebanese media.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified since the beginning of the Gaza war on October 7, which has resulted in nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of almost the entire population of the besieged area, amidst widespread reports of famine and health crises.