Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Targeted in Alleged Israeli Strike in Tehran

Tehran, Iran – Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, reported that its top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was the target of an alleged Israeli strike in Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Tuesday. Haniyeh, who had been attending the inauguration of Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, is confirmed to be alive and safe, contrary to initial reports of his death.

In a statement, Hamas condemned the strike as a “treacherous Zionist raid” and vowed that it would “not go unanswered.” Musa Abu Marzuk, a member of the Hamas political bureau, described the attack as a “cowardly act.” Haniyeh’s residence in Tehran was reportedly “hit,” according to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, but the Hamas leader escaped unharmed. One of Haniyeh’s bodyguards was killed in the strike, according to statements by both Hamas and the Iranian authorities.

Ismail Haniyeh is a prominent figure in Palestinian politics and has been the leader of Hamas since 2017. He lives in exile, splitting his time between Turkey and Qatar, and has played a pivotal role in shaping Hamas’s policies and strategies, particularly in relation to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Haniyeh joined Hamas in 1987 during the First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, and his close association with the group’s spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, helped him rise through the ranks.

The alleged Israeli strike comes amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas. Israel has vowed to target Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders in retaliation for the group’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has led to a significant loss of life, with at least 39,000 Palestinians killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

In the aftermath of the incident, analysts on Iranian state television pointed fingers at Israel, suggesting their involvement in the strike. However, Israel has not issued any official statements or claimed responsibility for the attack, which is consistent with their practice regarding targeted killings.

Haniyeh’s presence in Tehran highlights Iran’s support for the Palestinian cause, which has been a centerpiece of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Iran has hailed Hamas’s attacks on Israel but denied direct involvement. The ‘axis of resistance,’ a network of Iran-sponsored organizations and militias across the Middle East, aims to expand Iranian influence and resist Western presence, particularly focusing on Israel.

The attempted strike on Haniyeh’s life underscores the volatile nature of the ongoing conflict and the complex regional alliances at play. As the situation continues to evolve, the international community closely monitors developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding tensions between Israel and Hamas.