Ismail Haniyeh, the prominent leader of Hamas, has been assassinated in Tehran. According to statements from both Hamas and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Haniyeh was killed during a raid at his residence on Wednesday, July 31, shortly after attending the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards confirmed the incident, stating, "Early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck, resulting in his and one of his bodyguards' martyrdom. The cause is under investigation and will be announced soon."
Hamas released a statement declaring Haniyeh a martyr, honoring his dedication to the Palestinian cause. Haniyeh was quoted expressing his readiness for the costs of their struggle, stating, "We are ready for these costs: martyrdom for the sake of Palestine, and for the sake of God Almighty, and for the sake of the dignity of this nation."
Haniyeh, the exiled political chief of Hamas, had spent recent years in Qatar and Turkey, acting as a key negotiator during the Israel-Gaza ceasefire talks and maintaining strong relations with various Palestinian factions. He was elected head of the Hamas political bureau in 2017, succeeding Khaled Meshaal, after serving as Palestinian prime minister following Hamas's victory in the 2006 parliamentary election.
