Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s death complicates the US, Egypt and Qatar efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire with Israel|council.gov.ru|CC BY 4.0
The political chief of Hamas outside Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an airstrike in Tehran, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Wednesday, blaming Israel for the assassination.
He is reportedly the highest-ranking Hamas official to be killed since the Israel-Gaza conflict began.
Israel hasn’t confirmed its involvement, but the country had vowed to kill Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders following the October 7 attack.
Haniyeh’s death complicates the US, Egypt and Qatar’s efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire with Israel. The conflict continues with no signs of resolution and has left over 39,000 people dead in the enclave, according to Palestinian health authorities.
A few hours before Haniyeh’s attack, an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut in retaliation for a rocket attack that killed 12 in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights.
American and Arab diplomats worry the killing of these top leaders in militant groups—on Iranian soil—could escalate the conflict in the Middle East, pitting US ally Israel against Iran and its supporters.
But, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin doesn’t expect a wider regional conflict. However, he has pledged to defend Israel if necessary.