The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political chief, has been described by the group as a “grave escalation” that will not go unanswered. This event, occurring at his Tehran residence, is seen as a significant blow to efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. The impact on the region’s stability and ongoing peace negotiations is profound.
Early Life and Political Involvement
Ismail Haniyeh was born in 1963 in the Al-Shāṭiʾ refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. His parents were Palestinian Arabs displaced from their village near Ashqelon during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Growing up in the refugee camp, Haniyeh experienced the hardships typical of refugee children, relying on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for education, food aid, and medicine.
In 1981, Haniyeh enrolled at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he studied Arabic literature. During his time at the university, he became active in student politics, leading an Islamist student association affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. This early involvement in political activism set the stage for his future roles within Hamas.
Born in 1962 in Gaza’s Shati refugee camp, Haniyeh’s political journey began as a student activist at the Islamic University in Gaza City. He joined Hamas during the First Palestinian Intifada in 1987, quickly rising through the ranks of the organization. In 1994, Haniyeh advocated for Hamas to enter formal politics, a position that would shape the group’s future trajectory.
Rise to Prominence
Haniyeh’s leadership role in Hamas was solidified in 1997 when he became Sheikh Ahmed Yassin’s personal secretary. He remained a close confidant of Yassin until the latter’s assassination by Israel in 2004. In 2003, both Haniyeh and Yassin survived a failed assassination attempt by Israel, underscoring the perilous nature of their positions.
In 2006, Haniyeh headed Hamas’ list in the Palestinian legislative elections, leading the group to a majority victory. Haniyeh became the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, the international community’s reaction to Hamas’ leadership was swift, with aid to the PA being frozen, causing significant financial strain.
Internal Conflict and Autonomous Rule in Gaza
In June 2007, after months of tension and armed conflict between Hamas and Fatah factions, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyeh and dissolved his government. This led to the establishment of an autonomous Hamas-led government in Gaza, with Haniyeh at the helm. In response, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, leading to further hardships for its residents.
Notable Achievements
Despite the challenges, Hamas under Haniyeh managed to secure significant achievements, such as the release of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. However, the continuous blockade resulted in deteriorating living conditions in Gaza.
At 44, he became the Palestinian Prime Minister, though his tenure was short-lived due to Western powers’ refusal to work with a Hamas-led government. In 2017, at 55, Haniyeh was appointed to the top leadership position in Hamas, marking a new phase in his political career.
Reconciliation Efforts and Leadership Transition
Haniyeh was involved in multiple attempts to reconcile Hamas with the Fatah-led PA. In 2014, he stepped down as Prime Minister to make way for a unity government, although he continued to lead Hamas in Gaza until Yahya Sinwar replaced him in 2017. Later that year, Haniyeh was elected chief of Hamas’ political bureau, succeeding Khaled Meshaal.
In December 2019, Haniyeh left Gaza for Turkey and Qatar, enhancing his ability to represent Hamas on the international stage. His notable visits included attending the funeral of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and the inauguration of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Haniyeh’s Role in Hamas and Diplomatic Efforts
As Hamas’s political chief, Haniyeh played a crucial role in the group’s diplomatic efforts. He moved between Turkey and Qatar, escaping Gaza’s travel restrictions and engaging in international negotiations. Despite being designated a “terrorist” by the U.S. Department of State in 2018, Haniyeh remained a key interlocutor in ceasefire talks with Israel, often viewed as a moderate within Hamas.
Haniyeh’s life was deeply affected by the ongoing conflict with Israel. On April 10, 2024, he suffered a personal tragedy when three of his sons – Hazem, Amir, and Mohammad – along with his grandchildren, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. This occurred during Israel’s war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack on Israel.
The Circumstances of Haniyeh’s Assassination
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh took place on July 31, 2024, in Tehran, Iran. He was killed by an “airborne guided projectile” while staying in a residence for war veterans, just hours after attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masaoud Pezeshkian. Hamas and Iran blamed Israel for the assassination, though Israel has not officially responded to these accusations.
The timing of Haniyeh’s death is critical, occurring shortly after an Israeli strike on a Hezbollah commander in Beirut, which followed an attack that killed 12 in an Israeli-controlled town. This sequence of events leaves Israel facing potential retaliation from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
The incident complicates the already fragile ceasefire negotiations, with Qatar condemning the killing and the US vowing to continue diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. The assassination underscores the ongoing covert conflict between Israel and Iran and their respective allies, further destabilizing the region.
International Reactions to the Assassination
The assassination has drawn widespread condemnation. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, expressed despair, questioning how mediation could succeed when negotiators are targeted. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the killing a “despicable act,” while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan highlighted Haniyeh’s lifelong dedication to the Palestinian cause and his recent efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
The Aftermath and Regional Implications
The assassination of Haniyeh is expected to provoke significant responses and could escalate tensions in the region. The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it a “cowardly act and a serious escalation,” underscoring fears that the killing could derail fragile ceasefire negotiations.
Haniyeh’s death has significant implications for the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and ceasefire negotiations. As a key figure in talks brokered by Qatar, the U.S., and Egypt, his assassination has cast doubt on the future of these negotiations, which were reportedly close to yielding a framework agreement.
From his early days as an activist to his role as a key negotiator, Haniyeh’s life was inextricably linked with the Palestinian struggle. His assassination in Iran marks a critical moment in Middle Eastern politics, with potential far-reaching consequences for regional stability and peace efforts.
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Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Tehran
