In a significant blow to Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of the Palestinian resistance group, was assassinated today in Tehran, Iran. Both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hamas have confirmed the assassination, marking it as a pivotal event for the organization.
According to the IRGC, Haniyeh was killed in a targeted attack on his residence in Tehran. The IRGC’s statement detailed that the attack occurred on Wednesday morning in the Iranian capital, resulting in the death of Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards. The IRGC has announced that a further investigation into the incident is underway.
IRGC Statement:
“With condolences to the heroic nation of Palestine and the Islamic nation and the combatants of the Resistance Front and the noble nation 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 hit in Tehran, and following this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred.”
Hamas also issued a statement mourning the loss of their leader and condemning the attack. They referred to Haniyeh as a martyr and emphasized their continued commitment to their cause despite this tragedy.
Hamas Statement:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Do not consider those who have been killed in the way of Allah as dead; rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision. The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas mourns to the sons of our great Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic nation, and all the free people of the world: Brother leader, martyr, fighter Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the movement, who passed as a result of a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran, after participating in the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president. It is a jihad of victory or martyrdom.”
Ismail Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Iranian president-elect, Masoud Pezeshkian. His assassination has sent shockwaves through the region, raising questions about security and intelligence measures in place.
The loss of Haniyeh is seen as a major setback for Hamas, and the incident is likely to escalate tensions further in the Middle East. IRGC has stated their intention to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, and further details are expected to emerge in the coming days.
