"Treacherous attack"

Ismail Haniyeh: Israel kills Hamas political leader

Haniyeh was considered the diplomatic arm of Hamas.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Iranian Foreign Ministry)

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has been killed in a targeted attack in the Iranian capital Tehran. The Islamists have confirmed the loss of their political leader and hold Israel responsible. The terrorist organization has thus lost its best-known face.

Hamas spoke of a "treacherous Zionist attack at his residence in Tehran". One of Haniyeh's bodyguards also died. Haniyeh had taken part in the swearing-in ceremony of the new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards also spoke of an attack on Haniyeh's property. "Early in the morning, Ismail Haniyeh's residence in Tehran was hit, resulting in his death and the martyrdom of one of his bodyguards. The case is under investigation and the results will be announced soon," the Revolutionary Guards announced.

Terrorists announce retaliation
Hamas' threats of retaliation were not long in coming: Haniyeh's murder was a "cowardly act that will not go unpunished", said an official of the Palestinian organization. According to Hamas, Haniyeh's assassination will not achieve its goal. A comment from Israel is still pending.

Haniyeh was considered the diplomatic arm of Hamas.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Iranian Foreign Ministry)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned the killing of his internal political opponent. The Palestinian factions called for a general strike and mass demonstrations.

Despite his harsh choice of words, Haniyeh was considered by diplomats to be one of the more moderate representatives of the radical Islamic Hamas and responsible for diplomatic activities. Among other things, he negotiated ceasefire agreements. He was based in Qatar, which guaranteed him freedom of travel. Three of his sons were killed in an Israeli air strike.

Israel considers the entire Hamas leadership to be terrorists and accuses Haniyeh, among others, of "pulling Hamas' strings". However, it is unclear how much Haniyeh knew in advance about the attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year. The plan, drawn up by Hamas' military council in Gaza, was such a closely guarded secret that some Hamas officials appeared to be shocked at the timing and scale of the attack.

Hezbollah leader apparently dead
The Israeli army is thus likely to have eliminated two high-ranking opponents within a few hours. According to its own statements, the military carried out a targeted strike against a Hezbollah leader in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday, who is said to have been responsible for the shelling of the Golan Heights at the weekend which left twelve dead.

The armed forces had carried out a targeted attack on the man "responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams and the killing of numerous other Israeli civilians", it said in a statement. The target is Fuad Shukr, who is considered a close advisor to Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. According to the US government, he is a member of Hezbollah's highest military body and is also wanted by US authorities for involvement in an attack on US troops in Beirut in 1983. Shukr is one of the highest military commanders in the movement.