Hamas political leader Haniyeh killed in Iran

Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, was reportedly killed on July 31 in Tehran.

Iran has accused Israel of carrying out the raid, raising concerns about a potential escalation in the Middle East.

An investigation is currently underway by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) regarding the unfortunate incident that resulted in the death of Haniyeh, a 62-year-old Palestinian Hamas leader.

Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony for Iran's new president, Masud Pezeshkian, scheduled for July 30.

Reports are indicating that he may have been killed in an air strike.

Israel has yet to provide an official statement.

Israel has launched a significant military operation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, resulting in a reported death toll of at least 39,400 people, as stated by the health ministry under Hamas control.

Hamas has stated that Haniyeh traveled to Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, who took the oath of office on Tuesday.

In response to the incident, Musa Abu Marzuk, a member of the group's political bureau, condemned the act as cowardly and emphasized that it would not be left unanswered.

Similarly, Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, affirmed the group's determination to persist on its chosen path.

According to state media, Iran's foreign ministry expressed that the passing of Haniyeh will further solidify the strong and unwavering connection between Tehran, Palestine, and the resistance.

Several foreign ministries condemned the attack, including Turkey, Russia, and Qatar.

In a tragic turn of events, Haniyeh tragically passed away mere hours after Israel announced the killing of the prominent military commander of Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based group with strong ties to Iran.

Israel has claimed responsibility for the death of Fuad Shukr, stating that he was killed in an air strike. The action was reportedly taken in response to a rocket attack that occurred in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights over the weekend.

While Hezbollah has not officially confirmed the death of a senior commander in the recent attack in Beirut, they have acknowledged that the individual, Shukr, was present in the targeted building.

A statement released by the group on Wednesday reported that the civil defense teams had been diligently working to carefully remove the rubble despite the challenging condition of the destroyed classrooms.

Progress has been steady, albeit slow, and the outcome is still pending.

Haniyeh, a notable figure in Hamas during the late 1980s, found himself imprisoned by Israel for three years in 1989 during the Israeli crackdown on the initial Palestinian uprising.

In 1992, he was exiled to a desolate area between Israel and Lebanon alongside several other Hamas leaders.

Haniyeh assumed the role of Palestinian prime minister in 2006 following Hamas' victory in the national elections.

However, his tenure was short-lived as he was removed from office a year later when Hamas forcefully expelled Fatah, President Mahmoud Abbas's party, from the Gaza Strip, resulting in a week of tragic violence.

Haniyeh strongly opposed his dismissal, arguing that it violated the constitution.

He emphasized that his government remained committed to fulfilling its duties towards the Palestinian people and maintained control over Gaza.

In 2017, he assumed the position of head of Hamas's political bureau through a democratic election.

Haniyeh was designated a terrorist by the US Department of State in 2018. For the past several years, he had made Qatar his home.