Image Credit: Hindustan Times
Early Wednesday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when his residence in Tehran was targeted, as reported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC has confirmed the attack and is currently investigating the circumstances. In response, Hamas has characterized the incident as a “treacherous Zionist raid” on Haniyeh’s residence.
This is not the first instance of Hamas leaders being targeted. On October 11, 2023, Israel bombed the house of Mohammed Deif’s father.
Who was Ismail Haniyeh?
Ismail Haniyeh, the chief political leader of Hamas, played a pivotal role in Palestinian politics, especially in Gaza where Hamas has governed since 2007. Haniyeh, who actively participated in the First Intifada, faced several imprisonments by Israeli military courts during the late 1980s. In 1992, he was deported to Lebanon with other senior Hamas leaders. His political prominence rose significantly through his close association with Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin, leading to his appointment as head of Yassin’s office. Following Hamas’s electoral victory, Haniyeh was nominated as prime minister in 2006 and was officially sworn in on 29 March of the same year.
In 2017, Haniyeh replaced Khaled Meshaal as the political chief of Hamas. Since 2020, he has operated from Doha, Qatar, reportedly due to Egyptian restrictions on his movement in and out of Gaza. Hamas leaders established a presence in Qatar after a fallout with their previous host, Syria, during the 2011 uprising that preceded the Syrian Civil War.
HAMAS
Hamas, established in December 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin as the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm in Gaza, emerged during the first intifada against Israeli occupation. Initially focused on violence to reclaim support from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hamas released a 1988 charter advocating for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in its place. In 2017, it introduced a new document softening its stance but still not recognizing Israel, hinting at possible acceptance of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders subject to national consensus. Known for its violent resistance, including suicide bombings starting in 1993, Hamas opposed the Oslo Accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel. Designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in 1997, Hamas led significant violent resistance during the second intifada in the early 2000s.
Although Hamas is considered a prominent terrorist organization by the West, it receives support from several Middle Eastern countries. Previously, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar have blamed Israel for the escalations in the Gaza Strip. Notably, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has explicitly stated that Saudi Arabia stands with Palestine.
Possible Effects of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh’s Death
Until now, the conflict was limited to Hamas and Israel. However, in the coming years, the Middle East may face significant turmoil. Ismail Haniyeh was a prominent figure involved in various ceasefire negotiations. The question arises: will Iran remain passive if it finds out that Israel was potentially involved in the killing? Has assassinating Hamas leaders been a longstanding strategy of Israel?
This particular incident may result in the revival of old international relations, and new diplomatic ties may form. Major Middle Eastern nations might enter the conflict, either directly or through proxies. In a multipolar world, this incident could potentially unite the entire Middle East. Another question to consider is whether this incident will escalate public tension on Netanyahu and potentially bring the war to an end soon.
It is quite difficult to predict what will happen next. While each country may have its own political and geopolitical stance on this matter, the global consensus is that the Israel-Gaza war is unlikely to end soon following this incident. The lives of innocent people will continue to suffer.