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Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said in a statement that its political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran (Iran). The group accused Israel of being responsible for his death.
Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards died after the building they were staying in was attacked, the statement said, adding that Haniyeh was in Tehran on Tuesday to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Hamas said: “The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas expresses condolences to our great Palestinian people, the Arab Islamic nation and all free peoples of the world: brother, leader, martyr, the leader of the movement Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a treacherous Zionist attack on his Tehran residence.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also announced Haniyeh’s death.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement: “Early this morning, Ismail Haniyeh’s residence in Tehran was attacked, killing him and a bodyguard. The cause of the attack is under investigation and will be announced soon.”
Haniya left Gaza Strip Living in Qatar in 2019. The top leader of Hamas in Gaza is Yahya Sinwar.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, who is based in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, said the killing was “hugely significant” for the people of Gaza because he was the leader of the negotiations they were looking for to achieve a ceasefire.
“Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank also view Ismail Haniyeh as a moderate leader who is more pragmatic than other leaders who led the military side of the movement,” Mahmoud said.
On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 200 prisoners. Since then, Israel has launched a war against Gaza, vowing to eliminate Hamas and kill its leaders.
At least 39,400 Palestinians have been killed and 90,996 injured in the war with Israel.
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