Hamas accuses Israel of killing its top political leader while he was in Tehran

Palestinian Hamas main Ismail Haniyeh, center, flashes a triumph motion arsenic he is surrounded by a group of Iranian lawmakers aft nan swearing-in ceremonial of newly-elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian astatine nan parliament successful Tehran, Iran, connected Tuesday. (Vahid Salemi/AP)

TEL AVIV, Israel — The Palestinian militant group Hamas accused Israel of sidesplitting its apical governmental leader Ismail Haniyeh successful an airstrike successful Iran connected Wednesday and called his decease “a vulnerable event” that would person repercussions crossed nan Middle East. Haniyeh was successful Tehran for nan inauguration ceremonial of caller Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Israeli officials said they had “no comment” erstwhile asked astir nan Tehran attack.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said nan U.S. was not alert of aliases progressive successful nan killing.

“This is thing we were not alert of aliases progressive in. It’s very difficult to speculate,” Blinken said successful an question and reply pinch Channel News Asia during a sojourn to Singapore.

Haniyeh’s sidesplitting threatens to escalate tensions crossed nan Middle East, wherever Israel has been engaged successful a warfare pinch Hamas since it attacked Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023.

It besides came conscionable hours aft Israel said it had killed a apical commandant of nan Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in an airstrike successful nan Lebanese superior of Beirut.

Pezeshkian called Haniyeh’s sidesplitting a “cowardly action” and said that Iran would take sides its territorial integrity.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned Haniyeh’s decease and said it represented a “dangerous escalation” successful nan conflict. Qatar had agelong hosted Haniyeh successful a U.S.-backed arrangement, and nan Gulf Arab state is simply a cardinal mediator successful efforts for a ceasefire successful Gaza betwixt Hamas and Israel.

Qatar’s premier minister, Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, said aft Haniyeh’s sidesplitting that governmental assassinations and nan continued targeting of Palestinian civilians successful Gaza undermine mediation efforts erstwhile “one statement assassinates nan negotiator connected nan different side.”

Haniyeh’s decease is besides apt to hamper ongoing cease-fire talks betwixt Israel and Hamas. He was nan main constituent of interaction for Hamas successful talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar.

Hamas said that Haniyeh would person 2 funerals — 1 connected Thursday successful Tehran, followed by a 2nd ceremonial and funeral successful Doha connected Friday.

Palestinian guidance to Haniyeh’s death

Palestinians successful Gaza said they woke up to nan announcement and were devastated.

“This was nan astir difficult news I person ever received successful my 70 years alive,” said Um Yusuf, who was sitting astatine nan entranceway of her shelter successful nan confederate Gaza city of Zuweida erstwhile she heard nan news of Haniyeh’s decease connected a power transmission connected her mobile phone.

“[Haniyeh] was a dove of bid … he was a mature man, loved everyone…and worked for nan use of each of nan Palestinian people.”

Ismail al-Ta’rwai, different Gaza resident sheltering successful Zuweida, said that Haniyeh’s decease had “crossed each its limits.”

“[Haniyeh] extended his limb for each serene negotiations, and aimed to lick nan differences betwixt nan 2 countries. But [Israel] has managed to termination each imaginable paths to peace.”

In nan West Bank’s largest city, Ramallah, resident Bahaa’ Zeit said he was saddened by nan news, but shocked that Iran wasn’t capable to do much to protect Haniyeh.

“How could Israel break done Iran’s skies and information and fto a impermanent of their state get assassinated?” Zeit said.

Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri told Al-Aqsa TV that Israel will not win successful breaking nan will of nan Palestinian group and that Hamas is an ideology that will not fade.

“This business must recognize that it opened occurrence connected itself and not connected Ismail Haniyeh,” Abu Zuhri said. “Hamas grows pinch each driblet of humor shed for nan state of this axenic land. The humor of leaders is not purer than nan humor of nan children of our people.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urged for calm, saying he was hopeful that moreover pinch nan events of nan past 24 hours, Israel would find a negotiated solution.

“I don’t deliberation warfare is inevitable,” Austin said. “I support that. I deliberation there’s ever room and opportunity for diplomacy, and I’d for illustration to spot parties prosecute those opportunities.”

Israel confirms elder Hezbollah commandant killed successful abstracted airstrike

Haniyeh’s decease came conscionable hours aft Israel announced it had killed a apical commandant of nan Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Fuad Shukr “Sayyid Muhsan,” in an airstrike successful nan Lebanese superior of Beirut successful retaliation for nan Saturday sidesplitting of 12 children successful a rocket onslaught connected Majdal Shams successful nan Israel-controlled Golan Heights.

Hezbollah, for illustration Hamas, is backed by Iran.

Israel blamed Hezbollah for nan attack. Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia and governmental movement, has denied it was involved.

In a connection released connected Wednesday, Hezbollah said Shukr was successful nan building during nan clip of nan onslaught but did not corroborate his death. Israel did not opportunity really it wished nan Hezbollah commandant was killed aliases supply grounds of his death.

Who was Ismail Haniyeh?

Haniyeh, 62, grew up successful Gaza and was imprisoned successful Israel during nan first Palestinian uprising of nan 1980s.

Following his release, he roseate done nan ranks of Hamas and survived an Israeli assassination effort during nan 2nd Palestinian uprising successful 2003.

He was Hamas’ apical fig successful Gaza erstwhile nan militant group took power of nan territory successful 2007 and roseate to go nan caput leader of nan group successful 2017. In 2018, nan U.S. State Department formally designated Haniyeh arsenic a terrorist. In caller years, he was based successful Qatar’s superior Doha.

During his tenure, Hamas and Israel fought 5 wars, including nan existent conflict. Israeli subject strikes successful Gaza killed respective of his sons and his sister this year.

It is unclear really overmuch Haniyeh, based successful Qatar, was alert of Hamas’ plans to onslaught Israel from Gaza connected Oct. 7. But Haniyeh had been progressive successful nan high-level negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-prisoner speech pinch Israel.

In May, nan charismatic of nan International Criminal Court said he was seeking apprehension warrants for Haniyeh and 2 different elder Hamas officials, for alleged warfare crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape, execution and hostage-taking during nan Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks connected Israel. The charismatic besides seeks apprehension warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s defense minister.

Of Hamas’ apical 4 leaders, only 1 whitethorn still beryllium live today: Hamas’ Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar.

In January, Hamas lawman main Saleh al-Arouri was killed successful a presumed Israeli onslaught successful Lebanon.

This month, Israel said it killed Mohammed Deif, nan caput of Hamas’ subject helping successful Gaza, successful an airstrike that killed scores of different Palestinians, though his destiny is still unknown. Hamas has not commented connected whether he is live aliases dead.

NPR’s Rebecca Rosman contributed to this report.