Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

Part of the Israel–Hamas war
Date	31 July 2024
Time	c. 02:00 IRST
Location	Tehran, Iran
Coordinates	35°49′10″N 51°24′57″E
Type	Remotely detonated explosive device Rocket strike (Claimed by Hamas)
Target	Ismail Haniyeh
Participants	Israel (alleged by Iran and Hamas)
Deaths	Ismail Haniyeh Wassim Abu Shaaban

On 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated after attending the inauguration ceremony for Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran, Iran, according to Iranian and Hamas officials. His personal bodyguard Wissam Abbu Shaaban was also killed. The cause of Haniyeh's death is under investigation by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Differing reports emerged as to how Haniyeh was killed, ranging from a missile strike to a remotely detonated explosive device previously hidden in his location.

Haniyeh was a prominent figure within Hamas since the organization's founding in 1987. He previously served as the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority and as Hamas Chief in the Gaza Strip. In 2017, he was elected head of the Hamas Political Bureau. Haniyeh was the highest-ranking Hamas political leader killed since the start of the Israel–Hamas war.

Background

Ismail Haniyeh

Haniyeh (center) meeting with the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei (right) hours before his death.

Haniyeh was the political leader of Hamas, of which he had been a prominent member since its creation in the wake of the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation in 1987, and was elected head of Hamas's political bureau in 2017. Haniyeh had been living abroad in Qatar since leaving the Gaza Strip in 2019. The US Department of State designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2018.

Footage from his office in the Qatari capital of Doha showed Haniyeh celebrating the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel with other Hamas officials, before they prayed and praised God. According to The Telegraph, Haniyeh became the "public face" of the attack, publicly describing it as the start of a new era in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Haniyeh gave a televised address in which he cited alleged threats to Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the Israeli blockade of Gaza, and plight of Palestinian refugees: "How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognise the rights of our people?" He went on to say that Israel, "which cannot protect itself in the face of resistors", could not provide protection for other Arab countries, and that "all the normalization agreements that you signed with that entity cannot resolve this [Palestinian] conflict." In April 2024, three of his sons and four of his grandchildren were killed in an air strike in the Gaza Strip.

The Jerusalem Post reported that although Haniyeh was said to be more pragamatic in hostage deal negotiations than Yahya Sinwar, he has frequently been a significant obstacle, and his removal might actually facilitate reaching a final agreement.

The last known image of Haniyeh, reported by Iranian media, was taken on 30 July, a day before his death, at a theme park exhibition in Tehran featuring "axis of resistance" landmarks. In the photograph, he is accompanied by Ziyad al-Nakhalah, leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and a group of men posing with a model of the Dome of the Rock.

Killings of Hamas officials

In response to the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israel stated it would target Hamas leaders. On 2 January 2024, Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri was assassinated in an airstrike in Beirut. On 13 July 2024, Israel attempted to assassinate Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, with the Israel Defense Forces announcing his death on 1 August. Hours before Haniyeh's death, Israel announced the assassination of Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah leader in Beirut.

Assassination

The initial report of Ismail Haniyeh's killing emerged from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who provided limited specifics regarding the circumstances of his death, which it said occurred early on 31 July and indicated that the incident was under investigation. Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian the previous day. Haniyeh's aide and bodyguard, Wassim Abu Shaaban, was also killed in the attack. According to Hamas, they were killed by a "Zionist raid" on their residence. Israel declined to give any immediate comments. Several Turkish media outlets reported that the assassin was a Mossad agent named "Amit Nakesh" — reports which were evidently misled publications based on a Hebrew meme parodying the word "Hamitnakesh" (Template:Lang-he the assassin).

Fars News said the strike targeted "the special residences for war veterans in north Tehran", but this was disputed by Tasnim News. In a press conference on 31 July, Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said "Haniyeh was visible in public so his assassination is not an intelligence achievement . . . we are waiting for the full investigation by the Iranian authorities". According to Amwaj.media, Haniyeh was assassinated in the Sa'dabad Complex, where he had unexpectedly decided to stay the night. A member of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council told Amwaj.media that a quadcopter was used to target Haniyeh after his location was revealed by his bodyguards. A Hamas official told the BBC that Haniyeh was accompanied by three leaders of the group in the building. Ziyad al-Nakhalah was also staying nearby in another room and his room was damaged in the explosion. Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces medical personnel stationed in the compound immediately rushed to the site but Haniyeh was dead and the bodyguard Shaaban was severely wounded and died soon.

Wasim Abu Shaaban

Wasim Abu Shaaban (a.k.a. Abu Abas), Haniyeh's personal bodyguard for 5 years, was also killed. He was born in Gaza City in 1988 and graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza. Early in his career, he was the bodyguard to Said Seyam, Minister of Interior in the First Haniyeh Government. A member of the Nukhba force in the Al-Qassam Brigades, he participated in the 2014 Nahal Oz attack, in which 10 Israeli soldiers were killed. He was named Haniyeh's bodyguard in 2019, accompanying Haniyeh on trips outside the Gaza Strip.

Method of assassination

Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese outlet with close ties to Hezbollah, reported that Haniyeh was hit by a missile fired from outside Iran. Israel's Channel 12 and Sky News Arabia reported that the assassination was a missile strike but was launched from within Iran.

According to a contradictory report by the The New York Times, based on information provided by several Middle Eastern officials, including two Iranians and an American official, Haniyeh was assassinated by a remotely detonated explosive device hidden in a guesthouse where he was staying. The device had been smuggled into the heavily guarded complex approximately two months earlier and was detonated once Haniyeh was confirmed to be in his room. This report was independently confirmed by The Jerusalem Post.

Three Iranian officials described the breach as a devastating intelligence and security failure for Iran and an immense embarrassment for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who use the compound adjacent to the Sa'dabad Complex for retreats, secret meetings, and accommodating prominent guests like Haniyeh.

Funeral

The funeral

A funeral was held for Haniyeh at Tehran University on 1 August, with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei leading prayers. From there, the bodies of Haniyeh and his bodyguard were taken on a five-kilometer procession to Azadi Square. Haniyeh's remains will then be taken to Qatar for burial in Doha.

Retaliation

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered a direct attack on Israel in response to the assassination. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened that Israel will exact a heavy price for any aggression.

A few hours after Haniyeh's death was announced, the al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for a shooting and stabbing attack near Beit Einun, north of Hebron in the West Bank, which seriously wounded an Israeli man. They stated the attack was in retaliation for the assassination of Haniyeh and indicated more assaults would occur in the Hebron area.

United States military deployed 4000 marines and 12 ships to the region including USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), eight destroyers and three Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.

Airlines such as FlyDubai, Delta, Air India, Air Baltic, Lufthansa, United, and Austrian Airlines suspended their flights to Israel.

Crude price fell by 1% despite threat of war.

Reactions

Palestine

President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing, calling it "a cowardly act and a serious escalation". He also called for the Palestinian people to unite. Palestine's deputy permanent observer to the United Nations, Feda Abdelhady Nasser, called on the international community to stop Israel from dragging the Middle East into the "abyss". Former PLO member Hanan Ashrawi said that Israel's "gangster style" assassination of Haniyeh was made to "inflame the whole region".

Hamas said that it mourned the death of Haniyeh, whom it said was killed in "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence". Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook said that Haniyeh's assassination was "a cowardly act that will not pass in vain". Another senior official, Sami Abu Zuhri, accused Israel of killing Haniyeh, stating that it aims to break the will of Hamas and the Palestinians. Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, called the assassination a "dangerous event" that will have "major repercussions across the entire region". The deputy head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip Khalil al-Hayya said that Haniyeh and his guard was killed by an Israeli rocket attack that "directly" hit the floor of the building where he was staying.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a statement saying that it "mourns with the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation" for the death of Haniyeh.

Iran

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei held an emergency Supreme National Security Council meeting with top Iranian officials following the assassination. Khamenei later stated that "With this action, the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime prepared the ground for harsh punishment for itself, and we consider it our duty to seek revenge for his blood as he was martyred in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran". The New York Times, citing Iranian officials, reported that he ordered direct strikes against Israel in response to the assassination. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned the assassination, stating that Haniyeh's "blood will never be wasted". President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the assassination and said Iran will defend its territorial integrity and make those responsible regret their actions. The government announced three days of public mourning for Haniyeh. At the United Nations, Iran's ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, called on the UN Security Council to condemn Israel and said that Iran had a right to respond in self-defence to the killing, which he described as part of "Israel’s decades-long pattern of terrorism and sabotage targeting Palestinians and other supporters of the Palestinian cause across the region and beyond." He also accused the United States of responsibility over the assassination. The chief of staff of Iranian armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri, suggested that the response could come as part of a coordinated effort with the Axis of Resistance.

The Tehran Stock Exchange fell 1.9%. Iran's chief prosecutor warned journalists against "spreading rumours".

A red flag was hoisted above the Jamkaran Mosque in Qom and the Milad Tower in Tehran was lit up in red overnight. A large banner was placed in Tehran's Palestine Square, featuring a portrait of Haniyeh alongside the Dome of the Rock, with a message in Farsi and Hebrew reading: 'Wait for severe punishment.'"

Opposition figures Masih Alinejad, Hamed Esmaeilion and Reza Pahlavi called the killing of Haniyeh the sign of iniquity of the Iranian regime.

Israel

The Israel Defense Forces told CNN they "don't respond to reports in the foreign media". The IDF did not release new security guidelines for civilians. Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu praised the assassination, saying that it "makes the world a little better", and that killing him was "the right way to cleanse the world from this filth." Israel increased security measures at its diplomatic missions and Jewish sites worldwide. The security of Israel's delegation in the 2024 Summer Olympics was increased due to fears of potential attacks. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed troops at an Arrow missile air-defense battery, stating, "We don't want war, but we are preparing for all possibilities."

International

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session on 31 July following the assassination, during which China, Russia and Algeria condemned the killing. The United States, United Kingdom and France discussed Iranian support for "destabilising" actors in the Middle East, while Japan expressed concern over an all-out war in the region. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the Israeli attacks on Tehran and in Beirut against Fuad Shukr a "dangerous escalation". A spokesman for the EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said that the bloc rejected "extrajudicial executions", adding that "No country, nor any nation stands to gain from further escalation in the Middle East".

Egypt's foreign ministry said that the assassination of Haniyeh indicates that Israel has no political will for a ceasefire. The Jordanian foreign ministry condemned the killing and expressed condolences to the Palestinian nation and the relatives of those killed in the attack. The Iraqi government strongly condemned the "aggressive" operation, calling it a violation of international law and a threat. Oman also described the assassination as a "blatant violation of international law".

The Afghan government's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid praised Haniyeh as an "intelligent and resourceful Muslim leader" who made significant sacrifices. He stated that the Taliban-run administration considers it both an Islamic and humanitarian duty to defend Hamas. Qatar, where Haniyeh regularly resided, strongly condemned the assassination describing it as a "heinous crime, a dangerous escalation, and a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law." Its prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani asked "how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?"

In Lebanon, Hezbollah offered condolences without directly attributing blame to Israel, suggesting that the incident would bolster the determination of Iran-aligned groups to confront Israel. In Yemen, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, president of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee, condemned the attack, calling it "a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values". The government of the Sahrawi Republic and the Polisario Front also condemned the attack, while in Mauritania two mass protests were held in front of the US embassy and the Grand Mosque in Nouakchott, with protestors condemning the attack and demanding the expulsion of the US ambassador in response to the US' continued support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war.

In Indonesia, President Joko Widodo condemned the assassination as political violence and requested many people to condemn it. In a video statement, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the assassination, and stated that the assassination will lead into further destabilization of the region, provoke escalation of tension into full war, and damage any attempts for peace. The Malaysian government condemned the assassination and called for dialogue. A Facebook post by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding the assassination was taken down by Facebook's owner Meta Platforms, prompting him to accuse the social media firm of "cowardice". Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil asked Meta for an explanation to the takedown with no response. Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad mourned Haniyeh’s assassination, stating that "They may kill Mr Haniyeh but not his ideas and what he stood for".

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier called the assassination a "barbaric act" that violated international law, he later said that friday would he a day of mourning for Haniyeh. the government condemned the assassination and warned against Israeli "adventurism in the region". The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, condemned the killing of his ally and "brother" Haniyeh, stating that the attack was to disrupt the Palestinian cause, and that "Zionist barbarism will not reach its goals," he later calls Friday as a day of mourning for Haniyeh. The Turkish foreign ministry condemned the "heinous" assassination, stating that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has no intention of achieving peace".

In the United States, a White House spokesperson acknowledged that they had seen reports of Haniyeh's death but declined to provide any immediate comments. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he did not think a wider war in the Middle East was inevitable and further added that this will resolve in a diplomatic fashion, adding that the United States would assist Israel if it were attacked, and reiterated "unwavering commitment" to the security of Israel. The German government called for "maximum restraint" and de-escalation.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the assassination and said the government was "deeply concerned that this incident may lead to further instability in the regional situation". Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov condemned the assassination, calling it an "unacceptable political murder". Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin "strongly condemned" the killing that would hinder peace across the region. The President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, condemned the assassination.

The Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders praised the assassination, writing: "Good riddance!"

Media and analysts

Several sources considered the killing to be contrary to international law and international humanitarian law. The killing was considered a violation of Iran's sovereignty by Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief.

Peter Ricketts, UK's former National Security Advisor, was quoted by the BBC as saying that the assassination was "a very powerful demonstration of Israel's ability to reach out right across the region."

CNN noted that Haniyeh's killing was "a significant blow" to Hamas, occurring "at a fraught time for the Middle East," and added that it "also throws into question the future of Israel–Hamas negotiations." Nick Paton Walsh, writing for CNN, described the killing as humiliating for Iran and possibly for the IRGC, who might have been responsible for protecting Haniyeh. He noted that the assassination of two senior figures in Iranian-backed groups, Hezbollah and Hamas, within hours, challenges Iran's sovereignty and its image as a regional power capable of protecting its allies and raises questions about its potential response.

The Jerusalem Post described Haniyeh's death as a "major setback" for Iranian-backed terrorism, adding that "while some are already viewing the killing of the Hamas terror leader as an escalation, the reality is that his death is a small amount of justice for the crimes of October 7." Avi Issacharoff, writing for Yedioth Ahronoth, wrote that Haniyeh's assassination is expected to prompt a response from Iran, which may carefully consider its actions given potential repercussions on its nuclear program. Issacharoff considers that Hamas continues to suffer significant setbacks.

El País noted that Israel blames Iran as responsible for the instability in the Middle East. As Tehran supports the economic, military, and strategy of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, the assassination is sending the double message of acting against Hamas and, furthermore, doing it in Iran.

See also

• 2024 Israeli strikes on Iran