EFFORTPOST Israel's Self-Destructive Gamble in Assassinating Peace Negotiator and Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh

On a recent visit to Tehran, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, was assassinated in an attack that has raised tensions across the Middle East. Haniyeh was in Iran as a guest to attend the appointment ceremony of the new president. This assassination follows the killing of Fouad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, signaling a dangerous escalation in regional hostilities.

Ismail Haniyeh, who briefly served as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority's government in 2006, was killed early on Wednesday along with a bodyguard when the house he was staying in was targeted, nearly ten months into Israel's war on Gaza. As he attended official ceremonies in Tehran, Israel conducted a targeted operation to eliminate him. This act has reverberated throughout the region, sparking outrage and vows of retaliation from Iran and its allies. The attack on Haniyeh, a prominent political figure and negotiator, has been condemned by many as a reckless provocation.

Ismail Haniyeh's last meeting with Khamenei, hours before his assassination. His last words with Khamenei were, "When a leader disappears, another leader rises."

His Last public appearance

The assassination of Haniyeh has been framed by Israel as a necessary measure in their ongoing conflict with Hamas. However, this incident appears to be more of a political maneuver by Israeli leadership rather than a strategic military action. Prior to the assassination, Israel fabricated the Majdal Shams attack, falsely attributing it to Hezbollah aggression, to justify its actions against Lebanon and Iran. In reality, the attack resulted in the deaths of Syrian Arabs, not Jewish children, further highlighting the deceptive nature of Israel's narrative.

The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh offers no tangible strategic benefits. Instead, it complicates the situation for Israeli hostages in Gaza, as Haniyeh was a key figure in negotiations. By removing a senior political leader from Palestine's landscape, Israel undermines potential avenues for peace and dialogue. This move indicates that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not interested in a ceasefire, as a peace deal could lead to his political downfall amid corruption charges and allegations of negligence and responsibility for the October 7th failure.

Killing a leader with whom one negotiates peace is widely regarded as a cowardly act. The assassination of Haniyeh does not demonstrate military prowess or intelligence sophistication, given that Haniyeh's movements were well-known. He frequently traveled between Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, Iran, and Algeria. Targeting him in Iran does not constitute a significant intelligence victory; rather, it underscores Israel's desperation to shift focus from its internal and external crises.

Netanyahu's actions seem to aim at provoking a regional war with Iran. By inciting a powerful response from Iran, he seeks to portray Israel as a victim, hoping to form a coalition and draw the United States into a conflict with Iran. This strategy highlights Netanyahu's willingness to escalate tensions for personal and political gain, disregarding the broader consequences for regional stability.

Until now, Israel denied and refused to admit its responsibility for the assassination.

Brief Background

Ismail Haniyeh was a senior political leader in Palestine, known for his role in negotiations and governance. He was born in the Shati refugee camp on the coast of Gaza City to parents displaced from Asqalan (now Ashkelon) when Israel was formed in 1948. As a young man, he was a student activist at the Islamic University in Gaza City, where he studied Arabic literature. In 1983, he joined the Islamic Student Bloc, widely seen as the forerunner of Hamas. Haniyeh was imprisoned by Israel at least three times and was deported to Lebanon in 1992, along with hundreds of other Hamas members and Palestinian resistance groups. He returned to Gaza a year later after the signing of the first Oslo Accord and became a close confidant of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Hamas's spiritual leader and founder. His high profile meant that he became a target for assassination, but together with Yassin, he survived an Israeli assassination attempt in September 2003 by escaping a building in Gaza City seconds before it was hit with an Israeli airstrike. Yassin was later killed by Israeli forces as he left a mosque after dawn prayers, and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi was assassinated in an Israeli helicopter missile strike on Gaza City.

After becoming prime minister in 2006, following Hamas's surprising win in the Palestinian legislative elections, Haniyeh's stature within the Palestinian movement grew further. Despite the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israel and Egypt, Haniyeh led Hamas's diplomacy from various locations, including Turkey and the Qatari capital, Doha. Appointed as head of Hamas's political bureau in 2017, he served as a negotiator in ceasefire talks or engaged in talks with Iran, a key supporter of Palestinian liberation.

Contrary to Israeli propaganda portraying him as a billionaire living in luxury, Haniyeh's family resides in Gaza. Israel's military aggression has claimed the lives of his sons, grandchildren, and approximately 30 close family members during the ongoing conflict. His daughter-in-law, Ines Haniyeh, reports that over 300 extended family members have been killed.

In April, Israel targeted three of his sons along with his grandchildren with a guided missile.

His Funerals Across the World

His assassination has sparked global reactions, with millions attending Haniyeh's funeral in Iran and other Islamic countries. Supreme Leader Khamenei led the funeral prayers himself.

Iran

Yemen

Millions in Yemen participated in Islamic absentee funeral prayers.

Qatar

Ismail Haniyeh was buried in Qatar after a funeral prayer took place in the Grand Mosque of Mohammed Ibn Abdulwahhab, with the presence of the Emir Tamim of Qatar. Emir Tamim appeared without the "Agal" on his head, which symbolizes mourning and grieving in Arab Gulf countries' traditions.

He was laid to rest at Lusail royal cemetery north of the capital Doha on Friday afternoon.

Turkey,

90,000 mosques in Turkey held an absentee funeral prayer, including Hagia Sophia.

President Erdogan declared a day of mourning, and Turkish flags were lowered worldwide in observance.

Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv

Islamic Countries

Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and nearly all Islamic countries declared a national day of mourning in response to the assassination.

Vengeance

Khamenei has vowed to punish Israel for violating international laws by killing its guest. Hezbollah has declared that it is no longer merely supporting Palestine but is actively at war with the Zionist regime, promising severe retaliation. Despite efforts by the U.S. and Western countries to urge Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen to limit their response, these groups have refused to comply.

Iran raised the red flag of vengeance at the Jamkaran Mosque in Iran. The last times this happened were on January 3, 2020, after the death of Qasem Soleimani, and on January 5, 2024, after the Kerman bombing. Once raised, this flag will not be lowered until revenge is taken.

The Iranian and the Axis of Resistance's response is likely to occur soon (possibly tonight), with Khamenei pinned a tweet on his official X account hinting at imminent action.

"Zionist Regime is Over"

Other Iranian, Yemeni, and Lebanese X accounts affiliated with the Axis of Resistance have echoed similar sentiments.

Also the Iranian national TV published

This comes after a Russian GLX9801 cargo plane carrying military equipment landed hours ago in Tehran.

According to Russian reports, Iran might attack using hypersonic missiles, potentially targeting Tel Aviv and the Haifa port. The anticipation of this response has plunged Zionist communities into fear, leaving Tel Aviv eerily empty as they brace for what is to come.

Streets of Tel Aviv now

The U.S. has shown a cautious stance regarding further escalation. After the assassination, the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt left the Persian Gulf, signaling a desire to avoid direct confrontation.

In a private exchange, U.S. President Biden expressed frustration with Netanyahu over the assassination, which undermined efforts to secure a hostage deal in Gaza. Biden conveyed that while the U.S. will aid Israel against an Iranian attack, he expects no further escalation from Israel and a return to negotiations. He warned Netanyahu that further provocations could result in the U.S. withdrawing its support.

Following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, global reactions have been sharply critical. China expressed strong condemnation, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stating, "We are highly concerned about the incident and firmly oppose and condemn the assassination," while calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Russia labeled the act an "absolutely unacceptable political murder" that will escalate tensions, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. Turkey condemned the attack as evidence of Israel's lack of commitment to peace, warning of greater conflicts if international action is not taken. Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe also denounced the assassination, emphasizing that such actions will not be tolerated.

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