Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in airstrike in Iran

Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ apical leader successful exile who landed connected Israel’s deed database aft nan militant group staged its astonishment Oct. 7 attacks, was killed successful an airstrike successful nan Iranian superior early Wednesday. He was 62.

Hamas said Haniyeh was killed astatine his residence successful Tehran successful an Israeli airstrike aft he attended nan swearing-in ceremonial of Iran’s caller president. Israel has not commented connected nan accusation.

Haniyeh’s decease would make him nan latest Hamas charismatic to beryllium killed by Israel since nan Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks, erstwhile militants killed 1,200 group and took astir 250 hostages.

The devastating Israel-Hamas conflict nan attacks group disconnected has go nan deadliest and longest successful nan Arab-Israeli conflict. More than 39,000 Palestinians person been killed, according to wellness officials successful Gaza.

While Hamas’ Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar is believed to person been nan mastermind of nan attacks, Haniyeh, caput of nan group’s governmental bureau who was seen arsenic a much mean unit successful Hamas, lauded them arsenic a humiliating rustle to Israel’s aura of invincibility.

“The Al-Aqsa flood was an earthquake that struck nan bosom of nan Zionist entity and has made awesome changes astatine nan world level,” Haniyeh said successful a reside successful Iran during nan ceremonial of precocious Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi successful May.

“We will proceed nan guidance against this force until we liberate our land, each our land,” Haniyeh said.

Hours aft nan Oct. 7 attacks, Haniyeh appeared successful a video released by Hamas starring prayers pinch different apical Hamas officials. They thanked God for nan occurrence of nan attack, which blasted done Israel’s vaunted defenses and resulted successful nan deadliest battle successful Israel’s history.

Michael Milshtein, a Hamas master astatine Tel Aviv University, said Haniyeh had a commanding domiciled successful nan group’s overseas argumentation and diplomacy, but was little progressive successful subject affairs.

“He was responsible for propaganda, for negotiated relations, but he was not very powerful,” said Milshtein, a erstwhile subject intelligence officer. “From clip to time, Sinwar moreover laughed and joked: ‘He’s nan much moderate, blase leader, but he doesn’t understand thing astir warfare.’”

Still, Israel pledged to target each of Hamas’ leaders pursuing nan attacks and has gradually worked to fulfill that promise.

Haniyeh was besides nether nan oculus of nan International Criminal Court, whose main charismatic sought apprehension warrants against him and 2 different Hamas leaders, Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, for warfare crimes and crimes against humanity. Similar requests were issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Haniyeh lived successful self-imposed exile successful Qatar since 2019 and nan threats against him did not forestall him from traveling. He visited Turkey and Iran passim nan conflict From Doha, he was progressive successful negotiations meant to bring astir a cease-fire and free nan hostages.

His domiciled successful Hamas’ activity besides costs him his closest relatives. In April, an Israeli airstrike successful Gaza killed 3 of Haniyeh’s sons, aft which he accused Israel of acting successful “the tone of revenge and murder.”

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Hamas said 4 of nan leader’s grandchildren were besides killed arsenic good arsenic his sister successful a abstracted onslaught past month.

Haniyeh, who was calved successful Gaza’s municipality Shati exile camp, joined Hamas erstwhile it was founded successful 1987. He served arsenic an assistance to Ahmad Yassin, nan group’s founder, and roseate passim nan years until he became its apical governmental leader, replacing Khaled Mashaal successful 2017.

Haniyeh was profoundly belief and studied Arabic lit astatine university. He was known for delivering lengthy speeches utilizing flowery connection to his supporters while serving arsenic premier curate successful Gaza.

Hani Masri, a seasoned Palestinian expert who met Haniyeh respective times, said nan precocious leader’s characteristic was a earthy fresh for nan caput of nan group’s governmental bureau successful Doha. He described him arsenic having been sociable and good spoken.

Haniyeh, for illustration thousands of different Palestinians, was detained by Israeli authorities successful 1989 for being a personnel of Hamas and spent 3 years successful jailhouse earlier he was deported to Lebanon successful 1992 pinch a group of apical Hamas officials and founders. He later returned to nan Gaza Strip pursuing nan 1993 interim bid accords, which were signed betwixt Israel and nan Palestine Liberation Organization.

Haniyeh assumed nan position of premier curate successful nan Palestinian authorities aft Hamas won legislative elections successful 2006. He presided complete nan gravest situation successful nan Palestinian activity successful its history, which continues until today.

Hamas violently overran Gaza successful 2007, routing forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction and installing itself arsenic ruler of nan mini coastal enclave, pinch Haniyeh arsenic premier minister.

Iranian media connected Wednesday quoted a past reside by Haniyeh successful which he said nan Palestinian origin has “costs.”

“We are fresh for these costs: martyrdom for nan liking of Palestine, and for nan liking of God Almighty, and for nan liking of nan dignity of this nation.”

Associated Press writer Jack Jeffery successful Ramallah, West Bank and Melanie Lidman successful Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.