In the early hours of Wednesday, Israel assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Hamas confirmed that their chief was killed in Iran's capital, Tehran. According to a statement from Hamas, the 'treacherous Israeli attack' resulted in the death of the head of the Palestinian group's political bureau in Tehran. Haniyeh had traveled to Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezheshkian.
Mousa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas' political bureau, vowed to avenge Haniyeh's death. He declared that the 'cowardly' assassination of Ismail Haniyeh will not go unanswered.
On Tuesday, Haniyeh, who resides in Qatar, was seen attending President Pezheshkian's inauguration. During a meeting with the Iranian president, Haniyeh expressed gratitude for Iran's support of Hamas and Palestine. Just hours before being killed at his residence in Tehran, Haniyeh had also met with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran announced that Haniyeh's bodyguard was also killed. A statement issued early Wednesday confirmed that Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed in an attack on his Tehran residence.
The statement mentioned that the attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday and that investigations to determine the reasons behind it are ongoing.
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, condemned the assassination of the Hamas chief, calling it a 'cowardly act.' He stated that the killing of Ismail Haniyeh is a 'highly dangerous development.'
Israel's Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, upon learning of Haniyeh's assassination, wrote on X, 'This is the right way to cleanse the world of this filth. No more imaginary peace or surrender deals will be considered... There will be no mercy shown for such people.'
He added, 'A strong hand that strikes them will bring peace and a little respite, strengthening our ability to live peacefully with those who seek peace. Haniyeh's death makes the world a slightly better place.'
U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz remarked that Haniyeh's death proves that even Iran couldn't protect Hamas' militant face. On X, Mike Waltz wrote, 'Haniyeh was the terrorist face of Hamas, mingling with Ayatollah, holding court in luxury hotels in Qatar and Turkey.'
Waltz further wrote, 'By the way, he smuggled goods and embezzled billions of dollars while people in Gaza lived in poverty. Not even the IRGC could protect him.'
