Who was Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political leader assassinated in Iran?

Analysis

Adam Lucente

Jul 31, 2024

The Palestinian Hamas movement's leader Ismail Haniyeh flashes the victory sign following a speech at a public rally during his visit to the southern Lebanese city of Saida, on June 26, 2022. (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images) — Ismail Haniyeh, political leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement, flashes the victory sign following a speech at a public rally during his visit to the southern Lebanese city of Saida on June 26, 2022. — MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

Hamas announced on Wednesday that its political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran, a development that sent shockwaves throughout the region and could escalate the conflict with Israel.

Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the Tuesday inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The official Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the location where Haniyeh was staying “was hit by an airborne projectile” at around 2:00 a.m. local time. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the matter is under investigation.

Hamas blamed Israel for Haniyeh's death, referring to it as an “assassination” and vowed vengeance. Israel has not commented on the incident.

Gaza born