Politics

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh and Bodyguard Assassinated in Iran; Israel Blamed

An official statement from Hamas revealed on Wednesday that the Islamist organization Hamas, which governs the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, has had its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, “assassinated” in Tehran, Iran. Hamas verified Haniyeh’s demise subsequent to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards providing information on the “martyrdom” of the main head of the Gaza-based organization.

“With condolences to the heroic nation of Palestine and the Islamic nation and combatants of the Resistant Front and the noble nation of Iran, this morning the residence of Mr. Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was hit in Tehran, and following this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred,” the statement issued by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards For Masoud Pezeshkian’s inauguration as Iran’s new president, the head of Hamas was present in the country’s capital.

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Although there was no instant claim of responsibility for the incident, Iranian state television experts started blaming Israel almost away. The Hamas statement also placed the blame squarely on Israel, claiming that Haniyeh’s death was caused by a “airstrike” on his home. On October 7, the day of Hamas’s attacks on Israel, a war broke out between Israel and the group, resulting in about 1200 deaths and about 250 hostages. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 90,000 Palestinians have been injured and almost 40,000 people have died as a result of the subsequent reaction. Iran and Israel have also long been adversaries.