The conflict between Israel and Hamas persists, unabated after six months, despite calls for restraint from the US and European nations. A recent Israeli airstrike has taken the lives of Ismail Haniyeh's three sons, with the IDF confirming their deaths and alleging that they were engaged in terrorist activities in Gaza.
Following his tragic loss, Ismail Haniyeh gave an interview to Al Jazeera stating that three of his four sons have become 'martyrs' in the fight to free Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque. He asserted that targeting the families of Hamas leaders will not break their will or force them to abandon their demands, debunking any such illusions.
Warning issued before October 7 attack
Ismail Haniyeh has been a mastermind behind significant attacks on Israel. Before the shattering attack on October 7, Haniyeh warned, 'We have decided to end everything in response to the atrocities on our people and the support of the West, so the enemy understands that they can no longer live in pleasure without being held accountable.'
Fled Gaza Strip to settle in Qatar
Born in the Gaza Strip's refugee camp on January 29, 1962, Haniyeh joined Hamas during his studies. He was elected Prime Minister of Palestine in 2006, and had fled to Qatar years before. Since the 1980s, he has been a notable separatist movement member, ultimately leading Hamas’s political bureau in 2017. The US State Department declared Haniyeh a terrorist in 2018.
Returned to Gaza in 1993 under Oslo Accords
As one of the founding youth members of Hamas in 1988, Haniyeh was arrested by Israeli authorities. He was exiled to South Lebanon with approximately 400 other prisoners in 1992 but returned to Gaza in 1993 following the Oslo Accords. Upon return, he was appointed Dean at the Islamic University.
Conflict since October 7 continues
On October 7, Hamas launched over 5,000 rockets from Gaza into Israel, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war against Hamas. The ensuing conflict has ravaged the Gaza Strip. Over 33,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed so far, and half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have abandoned their homes.
Death toll exceeds 33,000
Israel's retaliation for the Hamas attack has led to the loss of 33,000 lives in Gaza, including about 70% women and children, with nearly 14,350 children among the casualties. According to the United Nations, the casualties include over 170 UN employees and seven World Central Kitchen staff. Over 90 journalists have also lost their lives during the last six months, reports a journalists' agency.
