The head of the Hamas politburo, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in a missile attack on Tehran
Israel did not officially comment on the death of the head of the Hamas politburo in Tehran, Ismail Haniyeh, but the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, Amihai Eliyahu, said that "she makes the world a better place." According to Al-Mayadeen, Haniyeh died as a result of a direct strike from a missile that was not launched from Iran. Hamas intends to respond to the attack and blames Israel for it. At the same time, Benjamin Netanyahu's office instructed Israeli ministers not to speak out on the topic, the media write.
The Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage of Israel, Amihai Eliyahu, was the first among Israeli senior politicians to react to the assassination in Tehran of the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Hamas movement, Ismail Haniyeh. He called the airstrike "the right way to cleanse the world of this filth," indirectly confirming Israel's involvement.
The minister noted that there will be no more peace agreements on surrender and no mercy for the "sons of death":
"The iron hand that will strike them is the one that will bring peace, comfort and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who desire peace."
The Times of Israel claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Israeli officials to remain silent and not comment on Haniyeh's death. The Jerusalem Post also writes that Netanyahu's office instructed Israeli ministers not to speak on the topic. The country has not officially commented on what is happening.
Hamas blames Israel and the United States for Haniyeh's murder. A representative of the movement claims that it has been coordinated with Washington, and also states that the movement will take retaliatory measures.
Iranian Vice President Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi agreed that Hamas has the right to punish the perpetrators.
The reaction in the world
Russia
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, in an interview with RIA Novosti, called the incident a political assassination:
"This is all very wrong. This is an absolutely unacceptable political assassination, and it will lead to further escalation of tensions." According to the diplomat, Haniyeh's death will have an extremely negative impact on negotiations on a truce agreement in the Gaza Strip.
Turkey
Ankara condemned Haniyeh's murder and called on the international community to stop Israel before the conflict widens.
"The purpose of this attack is to expand the war in the Gaza Strip to the entire region. If the international community does not take action to stop Israel, our region will face larger-scale conflicts," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
Iran
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the blood of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh "will never be spilled in vain," and his martyrdom "will strengthen the deep and unbreakable bond between Tehran, Palestine and the resistance." Iran's Supreme National Security Council has decided to hold an emergency meeting, the NYT newspaper found out.
USA
The White House did not comment on the airstrike and its consequences, but noted that they were aware of what had happened. At the same time, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin stressed during a press conference in the Philippines that America would help protect Israel in the event of an attack. According to him, Washington has begun working to reduce tensions in the region:
"We remain concerned about the possibility of this escalating into a full-scale brawl. And I don't think a fight is inevitable."
What is known about the death of the Hamas leader
Early on the morning of July 31, the Mehr news agency, citing a statement from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported the death of the head of the Hamas politburo. Haniyeh was killed in Tehran by a direct rocket hit into the house where he was staying overnight. He was in Iran to attend the inauguration ceremony of the country's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
In an official statement, Hamas declared Haniyeh a martyr and blamed Israel for what was happening. According to them, Tel Aviv fired a rocket at the official's residence. According to Al-Mayadeen, the missile was launched not from Iran, but from another country. An investigation is currently underway.
"The killing of Haniyeh by a missile launched from another country means aggression against Iran and requires a decisive response," the Al-Mayadeen source stressed.
Hezbollah has issued an official statement regarding the killing of Haniyeh. It says that shortly before that, Israel struck a building in Beirut, where the main military commander of the group, Fuad Shukr, was located. His death has not been officially confirmed, as the rubble is being dismantled.
In April, Haniyeh reported the killing of his three children and grandchildren as a result of an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, during the entire conflict he lost at least 60 relatives:
"I thank Allah for the honor he has done me by taking my three children and several grandchildren," Haniyeh told Al Jazeera.
Ismail Haniyeh, who was allegedly 62 years old, was born in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza. In 2017, Haniyeh headed the Hamas politburo.
He was under US sanctions, and in 2018 the US State Department recognized him as a terrorist. In May 2024, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court demanded the issuance of arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders, including Haniyeh.
Israel believes that Haniyeh is one of the key people in negotiations on the release of hostages and a ceasefire.
Alyona Fomina
