The Life and Death of Ismail Haniyeh

Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of the exiled wing of Hamas and its chief negotiator on problems with struggle and peace, was assassinated on July 31 throughout a go to to Tehran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. He had additionally met simply hours earlier with Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an indication of Haniyeh’s standing with Iran. The beautiful assault, broadly assumed to be by Israel, evoked rage in Iran and from its community within the so-called Axis of Resistance. In a press release, the armed wing of Hamas stated the assassination would “take the battle to new dimensions and have main repercussions.” Khamenei stated Iran had an obligation to avenge Haniyeh’s dying and warned Israel of “harsh punishment.”

Iran stated Washington shared duty for Haniyeh’s killing due to its navy assist for Israel earlier than and throughout the Gaza Warfare. From Singapore, Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied that america had been both forewarned or concerned within the assault.

The assassination mirrored escalating tensions throughout the Center East. Only a day earlier, on July 30, an Israeli airstrike on southern Beirut killed Fuad Sukr, a senior Hezbollah commander linked by Israel to the assault on the Druze village of Majdal Shams within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which had killed 12 kids or youngsters on July 27. The escalation between Israel and Iran’s community of allies coincided with a US airstrike on an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq on July 30—the primary since February. The Pentagon claimed that fighters within the Standard Mobilization forces had been making ready strikes in opposition to US forces primarily based in Iraq and neighboring Syria to stop ISIS from retaking territory—an operation unrelated to the Arab-Israel battle.

Haniyeh had survived an assassination try in 2003 when he was a outstanding aide to Sheikh Yassin, the founding father of Hamas, in Gaza. In April 2024, three of his sons — Hazem, Amir and Mohammad — had been killed in an Israeli airstrike on northern Gaza. Haniyeh’s deputy Saleh al Arouri was killed in January by Israel. His sister and her household had been killed in an airstrike in June.

In January 2020, Haniyeh delivered a eulogy on the funeral of Common Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the exterior operations arms of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Soleimani, killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad, performed a key position in constructing the navy capabilities of Iranian allies and proxies throughout the Center East. What Soleimani “offered to Palestine and the resistance has introduced them to the place they’re in right now by way of energy and steadfastness,” Haniyeh stated in Tehran. Through the go to, Haniyeh additionally met with Soleimani’s successor, Brigadier Common Esmail Ghaani, the brand new head of the Qods Power.

The Haniyeh assassination interrupted months of negotiations involving Israel, america, Egypt and Qatar over phrases to finish the Gaza struggle and free dozens of Israeli hostages held for the reason that Hamas invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, a serious participant within the negotiations and an interlocutor with Hamas, warned Israel that “political assassinations and continued concentrating on of civilians in Gaza whereas talks proceed leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one get together assassinates the negotiator on different facet?” The next sections cowl response to the assassination, biographic materials on Haniyeh, and background on Hamas ideology.

Response by Iran and its Allies

Hamas

Sami Abu Zuhri on July 31, 2024: “This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation that goals to interrupt the need of Hamas and the need of our individuals and obtain pretend targets. We affirm that this escalation will fail to attain its goals.”

“Hamas is an idea and an establishment and never individuals. Hamas will proceed on this path whatever the sacrifices and we’re assured of victory.”

Hamas Spokesperson Khalil al Hayya on July 31, 2024: Israel will “pay the value for a heinous crime.” 

Qassam Brigades on July 31, 2024: Haniyeh’s killing “will take the battle to new dimensions and have main repercussions.”

Iran

Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 31, 2024: “The courageous chief and outstanding Palestinian mujahid, Mr. Ismail Haniyeh, joined his Creator within the early hours at daybreak, and the nice Resistance Entrance is mourning his loss. The legal, terrorist Zionist regime martyred our pricey visitor in our territory and has induced our grief, but it surely has additionally ready the bottom for a extreme punishment.

“Martyr Haniyeh was keen to sacrifice his honorable life on this dignified battle for a few years. He was ready for martyrdom and had sacrificed his kids and family members on this path. He was not afraid of being martyred on the trail of God and with a purpose to save the lives of God’s servants. Nonetheless, following this bitter, tragic occasion which has taken place throughout the borders of the Islamic Republic, we imagine it’s our obligation to take revenge.

“I supply my condolences to the Islamic Ummah, the Resistance Entrance, the brave, proud individuals of Palestine, and specifically to the household and family members of Martyr Haniyeh and of one in every of his companions who was martyred beside him. Might Almighty God elevate their ranks.”

President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 31, 2024: “The bond between the 2 proud nations of Iran and Palestine will likely be stronger than earlier than, and the trail of resistance and protection of the oppressed will likely be adopted stronger than ever. The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, honor, delight and dignity, and make the terrorist invaders remorse their cowardly motion.”

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on July 31, 2024: “The heinous crime dedicated by the Zionist regime in killing Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’s political bureau, will undoubtedly be met with a harsh and painful response from the highly effective Resistance Entrance.”

Overseas Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani on July 31, 2024: “Undoubtedly, the pure blood of this famous mujahid who honorably campaigned in opposition to the usurper Zionist regime in liberating the holy Quds and releasing the oppressed Palestinian nation from the clutches of Zionist occupiers won’t ever go in useless.” 

“As a supporter and confederate of the Zionist regime within the continuation of the occupation and genocide of Palestinians, the US authorities is accountable in committing this heinous act of terrorism.”

Hezbollah

Hezbollah assertion on Telegram on July 31, 2024: “We in Hezbollah share with our pricey brothers within the Hamas motion all the emotions of ache over the lack of this nice chief, the emotions of anger on the enemy’s crimes, the emotions of delight that the leaders in our actions are main their individuals and their mujahideen to martyrdom.”

Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Deputy Secretary Common Muhammad al Hindi on July 31, 2024: “This assassination isn’t solely directed on the Palestinian resistance and Hamas, specifically, however it is usually directed at Iran.”

“Israel is on the snapping point, and its reactions mirror confusion and lack of ability to attain any of its targets. Israel is going through such resistance for the primary time in its historical past.”

Houthis

Supreme Revolutionary Committee head Mohammed Ali al Houthi on July 31, 2024: “Focusing on Ismail Haniyeh is a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of legal guidelines and splendid values.”

Biography of Haniyeh

Haniyeh’s household fled from al Majdal Asqalan, in what’s now Ashkelon in southern Israel, throughout the 1948 Arab-Israeli Warfare. Born in 1962 within the Shati refugee camp in Gaza, he joined the Islamic Scholar Bloc whereas a pupil in 1984. He graduated with a level in Arabic literature from the Islamic College in Gaza in 1987. When the First Intifada broke out, he participated in anti-Israel protests and was a founding member of Hamas. He spent six months in an Israeli jail in 1988 and one other three years starting in 1989. In 1992, Israel deported him and lots of of different Palestinian militants to Lebanon.

After the PLO signed the Oslo Accord with Israel in 1993, Haniyeh returned to Gaza to move the Islamic College. He shortly climbed the ranks inside Hamas. In 2001, he grew to become the third-highest rating official. In 2006, he headed the Hamas record in its first run for parliament. After Hamas upset the secular Fatah Celebration, Haniyeh was appointed prime minister of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas compelled Fatah—its political officers and safety forces — out of Gaza in 2007. Palestinian President Abbas dismissed him, however Haniyeh remained the de facto chief of Gaza till Hamas leaders elected him to move the 15-person Politburo in 2017, when he moved to Qatar. America labeled him a “Specifically Designated International Terrorist” in 2018. He left Gaza in 2019 and arrange an workplace in Qatar. Haniyeh was reelected head of the Hamas Politburo in 2021.

Hamas Ideology

Hamas—the Islamic Resistance Motion or Harakat al Muqawama al Islamiyah—is each an Islamist get together and a militia primarily based in Gaza. It was based in 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a well-liked cleric, because the Palestinian department of the Muslim Brotherhood. It emerged throughout the first intifada rebellion in opposition to the Israeli occupation. Its unique constitution advocated destroying Israel and establishing an impartial Islamic state in historic Palestine. A revised constitution, launched in Might 2017, provisionally accepted a Palestinian state primarily based on the 1967 borders.

Hamas has two major divisions. The political wing governs Gaza and supplies social companies. The navy wing—the Izz ad-Din al Qassam Brigades, named after a Muslim preacher in British-occupied Palestine within the Thirties—targets Israel with rockets, suicide bomb assaults, and cross-border raids. In October 1997, america designated Hamas as a Overseas Terrorist Group.

Relationship with Iran

Iran supplies Hamas with monetary help, weapons and coaching. Their relations converged after the 1990 Gulf Warfare and the US-orchestrated Madrid Peace Convention, which was organized to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace course of. In 1992, at a convention in Tehran, Iran reportedly vowed to offer Hamas $30 million yearly and supply navy coaching. Hamas later opened an workplace in Tehran. Ties deepened in 1992 after Israel deported lots of of Palestinians, together with Hamas leaders, to Lebanon. Whereas in Lebanon, Hamas acquired navy coaching from Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Between 1990 and 2000, Iranian monetary assist to Hamas reportedly ranged from $20 million to $50 million yearly, even because it maintained ties with Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Liberation Group and the Fatah Celebration—political rivals to Hamas.

Within the 2006 legislative elections, Hamas received a majority—76 of the 132 seats, in comparison with Fatah’s 43 seats. It briefly led the Palestinian Authority in each the West Financial institution and Gaza. Within the 12 months after the elections, nonetheless, tensions grew between the 2 largest Palestinian events. In mid-2007, President Mahmoud Abbas (of Fatah) fired Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (of Hamas); Hamas additionally forcibly assumed management of safety within the Gaza strip. These actions resulted within the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority’s unity authorities and the de facto division of the Palestinian territories into two entities, with Gaza ruled by Hamas and the West Financial institution ruled by Fatah. 

Throughout this turbulent interval, Hamas ties to Iran deepened. In December 2006, Prime Minister Haniyeh visited Tehran, the place he met with Supreme Chief Ayatollah Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran reportedly gave Hamas $250 million. Through the 2008 Gaza Warfare—dubbed “Operation Solid Lead” by the Israelis and the “Battle of al Furqan” by Hamas—Iran elevated help, together with extra superior rockets, to Hamas. “The victory of the individuals of Gaza was a miracle of God, and the Islamic Republic positively has a share on this victory,” stated Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas political chief in exile.

The outbreak of the Syrian civil struggle in 2011 triggered a break up between Tehran and Hamas, which backed opposing events. Iran offered troops and strategic navy help to prop up President Bashar al Assad, a member of the Alawite minority. Hamas pledged assist for the predominantly Sunni opposition. In return, Iran minimize off funding to Hamas—reportedly $23 million month-to-month—in 2012. Hamas was additionally squeezed in 2013 when the Egyptian navy ousted the primary Muslim Brotherhood-led authorities in Cairo and closed tunnels between Gaza and Egypt that Hamas had relied on to smuggle provides, arms and other people. The closures had a sweeping affect on income sources for the Hamas authorities, reportedly decreasing its finances by as much as 75 p.c.

After the break up with Syria, Meshaal and different senior Hamas members had been compelled to depart their long-time base in Damascus. Hamas turned to Qatar for funding and instead headquarters. The partnership with Doha helped to ease a few of motion’s monetary troubles.

In 2015, tensions between Hamas and Iran additionally developed when Hamas expressed tacit assist for the Saudi-led offensive in opposition to the Houthis, a militant insurgent group backed by Iran in Yemen.

In August 2017, Iran once more started funding Hamas after Saleh al Arouri, the Hamas second-in-command, met with senior Iranian officers. “Relations with Iran are wonderful and Iran is the most important supporter of the Izz ad-Din al Qassam Brigades with cash and arms,” stated Yahya Sinwar, a senior Hamas navy chief. “The connection right now is creating and returning to what it was within the outdated days … This will likely be mirrored within the resistance [against Israel] and within the [Hamas] agenda to attain liberation.” Within the spring of 2018, Hamas officers stated relations with Iran had been nearer than at any time for the reason that Syrian civil struggle erupted in 2011. In August 2018, Israeli media reported that Iran was transferring some $70 million a 12 months, or $5.83 million a month, to Hamas.

In July 2019, 9 Hamas officers, together with Arouri, met with Supreme Chief Khamenei in Tehran. Iran reportedly supplied to extend month-to-month transfers to Hamas to $30 million in alternate for data on the situation of Israel’s missile stockpiles.

Iranian Brigadier Common Amir Ali Hajizadeh boasted that Tehran had offered weapons and know-how to Palestinian militant teams, notably rockets. “In Palestine, they’re now utilizing rockets as an alternative of stones,” the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Power and Missile Unit stated in January 2021. Hajizadeh claimed that Iran had additionally taught Palestinian militants manufacture their very own weaponry. Hamas political leaders acknowledged receiving assist from Iran. “I give due to those that offered funds and weaponry to the brave resistance, the Islamic Republic of Iran, [which] has not skimped in extending funds, weaponry, and know-how to the resistance,” Haniyeh said on a Hamas Telegram channel in Might 2021.

Iranian leaders lauded Hamas for its multi-pronged assault on Israel that killed greater than 1,000 individuals in October 2023. Supreme Chief Khamenei known as the unprecedented operation “a devastating earthquake” and a “nice calamity” for Israel, regardless that the Palestinian group dedicated murderous atrocities and hostage seizures of Israeli civilians from houses, streets and even a music competition in central and southern Israel. In a phone name with Haniyeh, the Hamas political bureau chief, President Ebrahim Raisi known as the assault “the success of the 70-year-old expectation of the Palestinian nation and the Islamic Ummah (nation).”