The leadership of Hamas has confirmed that its political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran during an "Israeli raid on his residence."
Earlier reports from Iranian news agencies Mehr and Tasnim, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in an attack on his residence. One of Haniyeh's bodyguards was also killed in the attack.
Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran's newly elected President, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Ismail Haniyeh: A Brief Biography
- Birth and Education: Born on January 29, 1963, in the Shaati Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza. Graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza in 1987 with a degree in Arabic Literature and joined Hamas the same year.
- Early Career: Deported by Israeli authorities to southern Lebanon in 1992, he returned to Gaza a year later and began working at the Islamic University. Became a close aide to Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, heading Yassin's office in 1998.
- Leadership Roles: After the assassination of Yassin and his successor Abd al-Aziz Rantisi in 2004, Haniyeh became the head of the Hamas government in Gaza. Elected head of Hamas's political bureau in May 2017, succeeding Khalid Meshaal. His term was extended for another four years in August 2021.
- Recent Years: Lived in Doha, Qatar, in recent years. His personal fortune was estimated at more than $4 billion.
Family Losses: Many of Haniyeh's sons and other relatives were killed during Operation Iron Swords in Gaza, which began after the Hamas-led massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023.
