Israel’s military has confirmed that an airstrike in the Gaza Strip killed three of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s sons. The trio, identified as Amir, Mohammad, and Hazem Haniyeh, were described as military operatives in the Hamas terrorist organization conducting activities in central Gaza. Ismail Haniyeh, in exile in Qatar, condemned the attack as an act of revenge and murder by the “criminal enemy” who targeted his family in an attempt to influence Hamas’ position. Al-Aqsa TV station aired footage of Haniyeh receiving news of his sons’ deaths while visiting wounded Palestinians in a hospital in Doha. The strike occurred following threats from Iran’s leader, who promised to retaliate against Israel for an airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke during a prayer ceremony, criticizing the U.S. and the West for involvement in the tensions in the region and promising to retaliate against Israel for the airstrike that demolished Iran’s consulate. He condemned the attack as a wrongdoing and likened it to an attack on Iran itself, vowing that Israel would be punished. The airstrike that killed several Iranian generals earlier in the month prompted Khamenei’s threats. The remarks were made as part of a ceremony celebrating the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The situation heightened tensions in the region, prompting concerns from Democrat senators about Israel’s war status and President Biden’s efforts to balance relations with progressives.
The airstrike in Gaza that killed Ismail Haniyeh’s sons occurred near the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, according to Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV station. Ismail Haniyeh himself, who is originally from Shati, has been living in exile in Qatar. He condemned the attack on his family as an attempt by the enemy to influence Hamas’ position and stated that targeting his sons will not cause the organization to change its stance. The strike came after Iran’s leader threatened to take action against Israel in response to an earlier airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria. The attack resulted in the deaths of several Iranian generals, prompting strong words from Ayatollah Khamenei during the prayer ceremony.
The joint statement from the IDF and Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency confirmed that the three men killed in the airstrike were military operatives in the Hamas organization. Amir, Mohammad, and Hazem Haniyeh were identified as carrying out terrorist activity in central Gaza. Ismail Haniyeh’s reaction to the deaths was captured on Al-Aqsa TV station, showing him receiving the news while visiting wounded Palestinians at a hospital in Doha. Haniyeh, who has been living in exile, condemned the attack as an act of revenge and murder by the enemy seeking to influence Hamas’ position. The strike, coming after threats from Iran’s leader, heightened tensions in the region and prompted concerns from Democrat senators about Israel’s war status.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria during a prayer ceremony, promising retaliation against Israel and accusing the U.S. and the West of involvement in the tensions in the region. The attack, which left several Iranian generals dead, was described as a wrongdoing and an attack on Iran itself by Khamenei. The threats and condemnation from Khamenei came amid heightened tensions in the region following the airstrike in Gaza that killed Ismail Haniyeh’s sons. The situation prompted concerns from Democrat senators about Israel’s war status and President Biden’s balancing act in relations with progressives.
