Who Was Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas Leader Killed in Tehran?

 Who Was Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas Leader Killed in Tehran?

style="text-align: left;">Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, was killed in Tehran at the age of 62. Haniyeh, who had been leading Hamas's political efforts from exile, was reportedly struck by an Israeli attack on his residence, according to Hamas. The Israeli military has yet to confirm or deny this claim.

Haniyeh's death comes at a crucial moment, with escalating tensions in the Middle East due to the ongoing Gaza conflict. This development could have significant implications for the already strained ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which were stalled following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7.

Born in a Gaza City refugee camp, Haniyeh joined Hamas during the First Intifada in the late 1980s. His parents were displaced from Askalan, now known as Ashkelon, Israel. Haniyeh faced imprisonment by Israel for his role in the uprising before being deported and eventually returning to Gaza, where he rose through the ranks of Hamas.

Haniyeh played a central role as a key negotiator with international mediators, making his death a significant setback for Hamas at a time of heightened conflict and uncertainty.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Meets Hamas Leader Ismail Haniye

On July 30, 2024, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (right) met with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh (left) at the presidential office in Tehran. This meeting took place shortly before Haniyeh's death.

Haniyeh was part of a secret “collective leadership” established in 2004 following the deaths of Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who were killed in Israeli strikes within weeks of each other.

After Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council elections, Haniyeh became the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA) government. However, his tenure was brief, ending a year later when PA President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed him. He remains the only PA Prime Minister to have assumed office through popular elections.

Although Haniyeh was a prominent figure in Gaza, he officially became Hamas’s overall political leader in 2017, succeeding Khaled Meshaal, who had led the group from exile since 2004.

In 2018, during a period of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Palestinians over the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital by then-President Donald Trump, Haniyeh was designated a “specially designated global terrorist” by the U.S. Despite this, Haniyeh traveled internationally as Hamas's political head, including a recent meeting with President Pezeshkian in Tehran.

Ceasefire and Hostage Negotiation*

The surprise Hamas attack on October 7 saw at least 1,500 fighters enter Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and taking around 200 hostages. In retaliation, Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed over 39,000 Palestinians, creating a severe humanitarian crisis.

Haniyeh played a crucial role in international negotiations related to the conflict, including discussions on hostage releases. He expressed a willingness to negotiate, contingent on Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Despite these efforts, Israel deemed Haniyeh’s demands unacceptable, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging to continue fighting until Hamas is defeated. This stance has stalled negotiations, which had shown some promise earlier in the year.

In recent months, Haniyeh had been engaged with mediators in Qatar and Egypt to explore potential agreements, which had generated some optimism. His death is expected to significantly impact these ongoing negotiations, according to CNN’s Political and Foreign Policy Analyst, Barak Ravid.

Haniyeh also experienced personal loss during the conflict. In April, Israeli airstrikes killed three of his sons and four of his grandchildren. Despite this, he maintained that such acts would not deter Hamas from pursuing its demands in the negotiations.

At the time of his death, Haniyeh was based in Qatar, a country not party to the Rome Statute and therefore not subject to International Criminal Court.... jurisdiction