Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran on 31’st july, Will it end the war ?

Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Iran: Implications for Regional Conflict

In a significant escalation of Middle Eastern tensions, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated early Wednesday morning in Iran, as confirmed by the Palestinian militant group. This development raises concerns about further escalation in a region already destabilized by Israel’s war in Gaza and the intensifying conflict in Lebanon.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards acknowledged Haniyeh’s death, which occurred shortly after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president. The Guards have initiated an investigation into the incident.

Israel has not commented on the assassination. The Israeli military stated that it is assessing the situation but has not issued any new security advisories for civilians.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized Washington’s commitment to easing tensions while reaffirming U.S. support for Israel’s defense if attacked.

This news arrives less than 24 hours after Israel announced the killing of a Hezbollah commander, allegedly responsible for a deadly attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, further complicating prospects for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri condemned the assassination, labeling it a severe escalation aimed at breaking Hamas’s resolve. He affirmed that Hamas would persist in its course, expressing confidence in their eventual victory.

Iran’s top security body is expected to convene to determine the nation’s response to the death of Haniyeh, a key ally of Tehran, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the killing, while factions in the occupied West Bank called for a general strike and mass protests.

Ismail Haniyeh, who had been based in Qatar, played a crucial role in Hamas’s international diplomacy, especially during the ongoing conflict initiated by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7. Three of Haniyeh’s sons were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor’s office had previously requested an arrest warrant for Haniyeh over alleged war crimes, alongside a similar request for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ismail Haniyeh Appointed as the leader of Hamas in 2017, Haniyeh frequently traveled between Turkey and Qatar’s capital, Doha, circumventing the travel restrictions of the blockaded Gaza Strip. His mobility allowed him to participate in ceasefire negotiations and engage with Hamas’s allies, including Iran.

Haniyeh’s assassination occurs as Israel’s campaign in Gaza nears its 10th month, with no resolution in sight for a conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and risks expanding into a broader regional war.

Despite mounting pressure on Netanyahu’s government from the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza and the international community’s calls for a ceasefire, negotiations brokered by Egypt and Qatar have stalled.

Meanwhile, the threat of war between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified following a recent attack in the Golan Heights that killed 12 children in a Druze village and the subsequent killing of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

The conflict began on October 7 when Hamas-led fighters breached Gaza’s security barriers, launching a deadly attack on nearby Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people, and taking approximately 250 hostages into Gaza.

Israel’s relentless ground and air offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 39,000 deaths and created a severe humanitarian crisis for more than 2 million residents.

 Who is Ismail Haniyeh ?

Ismail Haniyeh’s death represents a critical blow to Hamas amid rising tensions across the Middle East due to the ongoing war in Gaza. His assassination raises significant questions about the future of negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

As Hamas’s political leader, Haniyeh played a crucial role in international mediation efforts during the protracted hostage and ceasefire negotiations following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.

Born in a refugee camp near Gaza City, Haniyeh joined Hamas during the First Intifada in the late 1980s. Ismail Haniyeh parents were refugees from Askalan, now known as the Israeli city Ashkelon. Haniyeh was imprisoned multiple times by Israel for his involvement in the uprising before being deported. He returned to Gaza and steadily ascended through Hamas’s ranks.

In 2004, Ismail Haniyeh became part of a secret “collective leadership” following the deaths of Hamas’s previous leaders, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who were killed in Israeli strikes weeks apart. By 2017, he had risen to the position of political chief and was subsequently designated a “specially designated global terrorist” by the United States.

Despite this designation, Haniyeh continued to travel globally, meeting with world leaders as the political head of Hamas. He was last photographed with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Tuesday.

Hamas’s unexpected attack on Israel on October 7 involved around 1,500 fighters crossing the border, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,200 people and the abduction of approximately 200 others. Israeli strikes in Gaza have since caused over 39,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, and led to a severe humanitarian crisis.

Ismail Haniyeh had been actively involved in international negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict, including discussions on the release of hostages held in Gaza. He expressed a willingness to reach an agreement if Israel withdrew from Gaza, emphasizing the need for a permanent ceasefire.

Despite his efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed these demands as “unacceptable” and vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is destroyed, leaving negotiations at a standstill.

Haniyeh’s death is expected to significantly impact ongoing negotiations, as he was a key figure in talks with mediators from Qatar and Egypt. His death also underscores the personal toll of the conflict, having lost three sons and four grandchildren to Israeli airstrikes in April.

Ismail Haniyeh remained steadfast in his position, asserting that targeting his family would not alter Hamas’s demands during negotiations. His presence in Qatar, a country not under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, provided him a base for his diplomatic efforts.

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