Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were assassinated following an attack on his residence in Tehran, according to a statement from the IRGC.
“Offering condolences to the brave nation of Palestine, the Islamic Ummah, the fighters of the Resistance Front, and the honorable people of Iran, this morning (Wednesday), the residence of Mr. Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was struck in Tehran. As a result, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred,” the statement reads.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Hamas reported that Haniyeh was assassinated “in a Zionist airstrike on his residence in Tehran” after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.
“Hamas announces to the great Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and all the free people of the world, the martyrdom of brother leader Ismail Haniyeh,” Hamas stated, as reported by AP.
In another statement, the group quoted Haniyeh, saying that the Palestinian cause entails “costs” and “we are prepared for these costs: martyrdom for the sake of Palestine, for the sake of God Almighty, and for the dignity of this nation.”
In the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Haniyeh’s assassination, labeling it a “cowardly act and a dangerous development.” Political factions in the occupied territory have called for strikes to protest the killing.
Since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October, over 39,360 Palestinians have been killed and more than 90,900 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Condemnations have poured in from around the world following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov called the act “an absolutely unacceptable political murder” and warned that it would “lead to further escalation of tensions.”
Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, head of Yemen’s Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee, denounced the attack as “a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values.”
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri stated, “This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation aimed at breaking the will of Hamas and our people. This escalation will fail to achieve its objectives. Hamas is an institution and not dependent on individuals. We will continue on this path, confident in our eventual victory.”
The Turkish foreign ministry expressed its condolences to the Palestinian people, noting the heavy sacrifices they have endured. It criticized the Netanyahu government, stating, “This attack reveals that the Netanyahu Government has no intention of achieving peace. It also aims to spread the war in Gaza to a regional level. If the international community does not act to stop Israel, our region will face much greater conflicts.”
Areepen Uttarasin, a veteran Thai politician and former Gaza hostage negotiator, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “The assassination is very serious because it occurred in Iran. It shows that Hamas’s opponents can strike anywhere. Assassinating the Hamas leader will make negotiations and de-escalation more difficult. Things will become more violent and the situation will worsen.”
