Who was Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political leader killed in Tehran?

CNN
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Ismail Haniyeh, political chief of Hamas since 2017, has been essentially the most seen chief of the group throughout Israel’s conflict in Gaza, and was key in ongoing ceasefire and hostage launch negotiations.

Hamas and Iranian state media stated Wednesday that the 62-year-old had been killed within the Iranian capital Tehran. Hamas claimed Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli “strike” on his residence, whereas the Israeli army declined to remark when contacted by CNN.

Haniyeh’s loss of life strikes a big blow to Hamas at a time when tensions are flaring throughout the Center East over the devastating conflict in Gaza, and raises fraught questions on the way forward for negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

As Hamas’s political chief, he was a key interlocutor with worldwide mediators throughout stalled hostage and ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, following the group’s October 7 assault on Israel.

Haniyeh was born in a refugee camp close to Gaza Metropolis, and joined Hamas within the late Nineteen Eighties in the course of the First Intifada, or rebellion in opposition to Israel’s occupation in Gaza and the West Financial institution.

His dad and mom had been refugees expelled from Askalan, which later grew to become referred to as the Israeli metropolis Ashkelon.

He was imprisoned a number of instances in Israel for his participation within the rebellion, earlier than being deported and returning to Gaza – the place he steadily climbed Hamas ranks within the following decade.

Haniyeh was appointed a part of a secret “collective management” in 2004 after the deaths of Hamas’ founders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who had been killed in Israeli strikes simply weeks aside.

After Hamas received elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006, Haniyeh grew to become prime minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA) authorities, nevertheless it was quick lived. He was dismissed after a yr in workplace by PA President Mahmoud Abbas and stays the one PA prime minister to have taken workplace after securing a mandate in well-liked elections.

A yr later, Hamas seized Gaza after a short-lived, however bloody battle with the ruling get together of the Palestinian Authority, Fatah. Israel imposed a land, sea and air blockade on the territory shortly after that, alongside Egypt.

Although considered Hamas’s chief in Gaza for a few years, Haniyeh didn’t grow to be the group’s general political chief till 2017, when he took over from Khaled Meshaal who had led Hamas in exile since 2004.

A yr later, Haniyeh was named a “specifically designated world terrorist” by america – which got here throughout a interval of pressure between Washington and the Palestinians because of the choice to acknowledge Jerusalem because the capital of Israel, a call made by the then-US President Donald Trump.

Regardless of that designation – and in contrast to Hamas’ army management – Haniyeh travelled globally, assembly with world figures because the political head of the group. He was photographed assembly Iran’s information President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Tuesday.

Ceasefire and hostage launch talks

Hamas’ shock assault on October 7 noticed not less than 1,500 Hamas fighters pour throughout the border into Israel, in an assault that killed not less than 1,200, and a few 200 others taken hostage.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have since killed greater than 39,000 Palestinians, in response to the Ministry of Well being there, and sparked a humanitarian disaster within the densely crowded strip.

Within the months since, Haniyeh had been a key determine collaborating in worldwide negotiations over the battle, together with the discharge of hostages nonetheless in Gaza.

He had proven willingness to achieve an settlement if Israel withdrew from Gaza – saying in Could that the group was “nonetheless eager” to strike a take care of mediators, however that any proposal must stop combating within the enclave completely.

On the time, he stated their calls for aimed to cease “the aggression in opposition to our folks, which is a basic and logical place that lays the inspiration for a extra secure future.”

In response, Israel has referred to as these calls for “unacceptable,” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to maintain combating till Hamas was destroyed – leaving negotiations at a standstill as each side traded blame.

As not too long ago as early July, Haniyeh was in contact with mediators in Qatar and Egypt to debate concepts on ending the conflict, sparking some hope that the 2 sides might be on the point of a framework settlement.

Given his position in negotiations, Haniyeh’s loss of life “could have vital affect on these negotiations,” stated CNN Political and International Coverage Analyst Barak Ravid on Wednesday.

All through the conflict, he has additionally continued assembly with different world leaders and officers – together with Chinese language diplomat Wang Kejian, who met Haniyeh in Qatar in March, throughout which they mentioned the conflict in Gaza.

Haniyeh has additionally felt the private toll of the conflict in Gaza. In April, Israeli police arrested considered one of his sisters on prices of speaking with members of the motion. 9 days later, Israeli airstrikes killed three of his sons and 4 of his grandchildren.

Afterward, Haniyeh insisted their deaths wouldn’t have an effect on ongoing ceasefire and hostage talks.

“Whoever thinks that by concentrating on my children in the course of the negotiation talks and earlier than a deal is agreed upon that it’ll drive Hamas to again down on its calls for, is delusional,” he stated.

On the time, Haniyeh was based mostly in Qatar, which isn’t a signatory of the Rome Statute permitting jurisdiction by the Worldwide Felony Courtroom.