Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh killed on 07/31/24.

The murder of Ismail Haniyeh, the senior leader of Hamas, in Tehran, the capital of Iran, has shocked the Middle East and put ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas over the Gaza War in jeopardy.

Israel, which has not yet responded, is being blamed by Hamas for the attack on Haniyeh, which occurred early on Wednesday morning.

All eyes will now be on two crucial queries. Given that Haniyeh oversaw the group’s political operations from outside and served as a crucial negotiator with foreign mediators, what happens to the ceasefire negotiations and the hostage situation in Gaza? And will this attack within Iran turn out to be the start of a regional battle that could escalate to a war?

What took place?

Haniyeh was residing in a veterans’ home in the northern part of Tehran, according to state-affiliated news agency Fars. Haniyeh had traveled to Tehran for the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

According to Iranian state-run agency IRNA, Haniyeh was the target of a “airborne guided projectile” that struck his residence at around two in the morning local time. His bodyguard was also reportedly killed.

According to IRNA, more inquiries are being conducted to ascertain the specifics of the operation and the location from which the missile was fired.

Not long after, Hamas denounced what it described as a “grave escalation” and a “Zionist strike” in its long-running fight with Israel.

The group is “ready to pay various prices,” according to a Hamas source, and the “moment of truth has come.” The official also stated that the assassination “will not accomplish the objectives of the colonization and will not push Hamas to submit.”

Israel’s military claimed it “doesn’t respond to reports in the foreign media” when contacted for comment.

Haniyeh: who was he?

The 62-year-old had been a member of Hamas for many years before rising to the position of political chief in 2017. The United States classified him as a “specially designated global terrorist” the following year.

Despite this title, and in contrast to the military leadership of Hamas, Haniyeh traveled the world and met with influential people in his capacity as the organization’s political leader.

He has assumed a pivotal role in the hostage and cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas during the conflict with Israel in Gaza.

He stated earlier this spring that Hamas was open to a compromise, but that it would need Israel to leave Gaza and provide a permanent cease-fire in the enclave—demands that Israel has deemed “unacceptable.”

As recently as early July, Haniyeh was in communication with mediators in Egypt and Qatar. Despite some optimism earlier this month that they were getting close to a framework deal, those negotiations are now in jeopardy.

According to CNN Political and Foreign Policy Analyst Barak Ravid, Haniyeh’s passing “will have significant influence on those negotiations” on Wednesday.

World leader’s opinion about the news.

Regional leaders have expressed their opinions; some have denounced the murder and expressed concern about possible repercussions.

Palestinian authorities have denounced the death and demanded Palestinian “national unity,” including the president and prime minister of Palestine, who hail from groups with a long history of animosity with Hamas.

A spokesman for the White House confirmed that they had seen the rumors of Haniyeh’s death, but they would not immediately comment further. Although US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the US will support Israel in the event of an assault, he does not believe that war in the Middle East is inevitable.

Both Turkish and Russian officials have denounced the assassination and warned that it could spark more serious hostilities in the area.

Additional terrorist organizations supported by Iran have also expressed support, such as the Houthis in Yemen and the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Two recorded homicides that occurred shortly after one another.

The news of Haniyeh’s demise arrived just hours after Israel declared that Fu’ad Shukr, the highest ranking military official of Hezbollah, had been killed by a drone strike in Beirut, Lebanon.

Although the group announced on Wednesday that Shukr “was present” during the strike, they have not confirmed his death.

Should this prove to be accurate, Shukr would be the highest-ranking Hezbollah leader to be assassinated since Mustafa Badreddine, the organization’s chief commander at the time, was slain in Syria in 2016.

Regardless of Shukr’s outcome, Wednesday’s attack was the worst Israeli escalation since Hezbollah and Israel clashed on October 8.