Assassination in Tehran: Life and death of Ismail Haniyeh, Palestinian resistance leader

Since October last year Israel has killed more than 30 members of Haniyeh family, including this three sons, five grandchildren, brother, nephew and 80-year old sister

Muslim Network TV Desk

TEHRAN, Iran – In a shocking escalation of regional tensions, Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of the Palestinian resistance organization Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran after a missile strike targeted his accommodation.

This brazen attack, which took place soon after Haniyeh’s arrival in Iran for President Masoud Pezeshkian’s inauguration, has provoked a fierce reaction from Iranian leaders and reverberated around the globe.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called the assassination a grave injustice, vowing that Tehran will avenge Haniyeh’s death. This development underscores the volatile nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics and the precarious balance of power in the region.

Born in 1963 in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, Haniyeh’s early life was marked by the struggles of his displaced family.

His parents, forced to flee Ashkelon during the 1948 Palestine war, settled in the refugee camp where Haniyeh would begin his journey into political activism.

Haniyeh earned a bachelor’s degree in Arabic literature from the Islamic University of Gaza in 1987, during which time he became actively involved with Hamas.

His activism led to several imprisonments by Israeli authorities, and in 1992, he was exiled to Lebanon. After a year, Haniyeh returned to Gaza, where he rose through the ranks of Hamas, eventually leading it through some of its most tumultuous periods.

After Israel released Ahmed Yassin from prison in 1997, Haniyeh was appointed to head his office. His prominence within the Palestine resistance organisation grew due to his relationship with Yassin and he was appointed as the representative to the Palestinian Authority.

In 2006, Haniyeh was elected as Prime Minister of the State of Palestine following his party’s victory in the legislative elections.

However, internal conflict and international pressure led to his dismissal by President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007. Despite this, Haniyeh continued to exert significant influence in Gaza until he relocated to Qatar in 2017, when was elected chairman of Hamas’ Political Bureau, replacing Khaled Mashal.

Hamas office in Qatar was established as part of an arrangement supported by the U.S.

During his time in Qatar, Haniyeh remained a key figure in Palestinian politics, often involved in cease-fire negotiations and maintaining strong ties with regional allies.

His leadership was marked by a blend of pragmatism and steadfast resistance, a balance that endeared him to many within the Palestinian territories and beyond.

After Hamas victory in the 2006 election, Haniyeh sent a letter to U.S. President Georg W. Bush, in which he called on the “American government to have direct negotiations with the elected government”, offered a long-term truce with Israel.

He asked the U.S. to accept a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and urged an end to the international boycott, claiming that it would “encourage violence and chaos”. The U.S. government did not respond and maintained its boycott.

Haniyeh resigned on 15 February 2007 as part of the process to form a national unity government between Hamas and Fatah. He formed a new government on 18 March 2007 as head of a new cabinet that included Fatah as well as Hamas politicians.

On 14 June 2007, amid the Battle of Gaza, President Mahmoud Abbas announced the dissolution of the March 2007 unity government and the declaration of a state of emergency.

The assassination of Haniyeh is the latest in a series of targeted killings of senior figures of the Palestinian resistance movement.

Earlier this year, Israeli strikes in Gaza claimed the lives of three of Haniyeh’s sons and five of his grandchildren.

More than 30 members of his family have been killed in Israeli airstrikes so far since October 2023 that also included brother, nephew and 80-year old sister.

These tragic losses only intensified Haniyeh’s resolve and his fight against Israeli actions.

The recent assassination mirrors the killing of Saleh al-Arouri in a drone strike in Beirut, reflecting a broader strategy aimed at decapitating the leadership of Hamas.

The international response to Haniyeh’s assassination has been swift and severe.

Egypt criticized Israel for escalating tensions, while Russia condemned the act as an “unacceptable political murder.”

Turkish President Erdogan called for a unified Islamic stance against Israeli actions, underscoring the attack as an attempt to undermine Palestinian resistance.

Iran, mourning the loss of Haniyeh, has vowed to hold Israel accountable. Lebanese and Jordanian leaders have similarly condemned the assassination, with Jordan highlighting it as a violation of international law. Qatar, fearing further chaos, warned that the act would undermine ongoing peace efforts.

China also joined the chorus of condemnation, expressing concern over potential regional instability. The assassination has cast a shadow over U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, as Haniyeh was a pivotal figure in these discussions.

Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination has left a significant void in the leadership of Hamas.

As global leaders navigate this fraught situation, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a resolution that honors the memory of Ismail Haniyeh and moves towards lasting peace in the region.