Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly assassinated in Iran, according to Hamas, which condemned the attack as a “severe escalation,” Reuters reports.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed Haniyeh’s death and are investigating the incident. The assassination occurred shortly after Haniyeh attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president. Israeli authorities and the White House have not commented on the incident. The attack follows Israel’s recent claim of killing a Hezbollah commander, linked to a recent deadly strike in the Golan Heights, complicating prospects for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri condemned the assassination and vowed continued resistance.
Haniyeh, who usually resides in Qatar, has been involved in international diplomacy for Hamas during the ongoing Gaza conflict, where his three sons were killed in an Israeli airstrike. He became the leader of Hamas in 2017, moving between Turkey and Qatar to evade Gaza’s travel restrictions and facilitate negotiations.
