Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the early hours of Wednesday in Tehran, confirmed the Palestinian resistance group, triggering concerns over a worsening regional situation, particularly in Gaza.
Previously, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had announced the death of Haniyeh, which occurred hours after he attended a swearing in ceremony for the country’s new president, adding it was investigating the incident to ascertain the parties responsible. There was no immediate comment from Israel, which stands to gain the most from this assassination. It also appears to set back chances of any imminent ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington would work to try to ease tensions but said the United States would help defend Israel if it were attacked. A day earlier, Israel had claimed to have killed a Hezbollah commander it accused of a deadly strike in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights.
“This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas,” senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told the Reuters news agency, adding this assassination would not deter Hamas from its goals in Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing, while Palestinian factions in the occupied West Bank called for a general strike and mass demonstrations.
Appointed head of Hamas in 2017, Haniyeh has worked as a negotiator in ceasefire talks, or to talk to Hamas’ ally Iran.