In a recent turn of events, Ismail Haniyeh – the chief leader of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamist group has reported that six of the family members which included three of his sons and four grandchildren been killed on the blessed day of Eid in an Israeli air strike on Gaza refugee camp.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed on X the assassination of three sons of Haniyeh- Amir Haniyeh, Mohammad, and Hazem Haniyeh, whom they referred to as Hamas ‘military operatives’ and that they were “on their way to carry out terrorist activities” – as they wrote, “The IDF confirms that the 3 operatives are the sons of Ismail Haniyeh, the chairman of Hamas’ political bureau.” On the question of killing the grandchildren of Haniyeh, IDF has not nodded in affirmation as they said, “No information on that right now.” So far in this conflict cum war between Israel and Palestine, a total of 33, 482 Palestinians and 1,139 Israeli citizens have been killed.
Diving into the depth of the matter
On April 10th this year, the news of three of the Hamas chief’s sons being killed in an Israeli air strike surfaced on the internet like a whirlwind. Hamas reported in a statement that Hazem, Amir, Mohammad, and their children, Mona, Amal, Khaled, and Razan, were killed post “a treacherous and cowardly Zionist raid that targeted them in Shati camp on the first day of the blessed Eid Al-Fitr”.
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari took to X to confirm this recent news. Reports have come in that four of Haniyeh’s grandchildren were also killed in the attack. Haniyeh told Al Jazeera that they were visiting relatives for Eid at the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza when they were targeted.
The strike happened after the talks in Cairo that aimed at a ceasefire and a hostage release deal dragged on without any clear signs of a breakthrough. The United States has also been seen building pressure on Israel to agree to a truce, increase the amount of aid it allows into the besieged Gaza Strip, and abandon plans to invade the southern city of Rafah. On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden reiterated his support for a truce deal as he told the reporter, “It is now up to Hamas; they need to move on the proposal that’s been made,”.
Haniyeh has stated on Al Jazeera that Palestinian leaders will not back down even if their families are targeted by the IDF and that the killings will not affect Hamas’s demands in ceasefire talks.
Haniyeh’s response upon receiving the news
Upon receiving the news of his sons being killed the chief of Hamas was seen in a video verified by Al Jazeera and circulating on social media, saying, “May God ease their path” as he looked nonchalant and unaffected by the sudden demise of his sons. Haniyeh was on his visit to injured Palestinians who were evacuated from Gaza to receive treatment at a hospital in Doha, Qatar.
As per the official statements, the leader has said “I thank God for this honor that he bestowed upon us with the martyrdom of my three sons and some grandchildren. With this pain and blood, we create hopes, a future, and freedom for our people, our cause, and our nation.” He added, “Our demands are clear and specific, and we will not make concessions on them. The enemy will be delusional if it thinks that targeting my sons, at the climax of the negotiations and before the movement sends its response, will push Hamas to change its position,”
“Through the blood of the martyrs and the pain of the injured, we create hope, we create the future, we create independence and freedom for our people and our nation,” he said, adding that around 60 members of his family, have been killed since the start of this war.
Global Leaders and dignitaries react to the airstrike
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took to X to extend his felicitation to the Israeli army and Israel for the killing of Hamas leader’s three children. He said, “None of the leaders of Hamas who … still hold our hostages, is immune from our long hand. With God’s help we will reach everyone,” in his recent post.
Hamas claimed on Telegram that the head of the group’s Politburo had received a call from Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, in which he “offered condolences on the martyrdom of a number of his children and grandchildren in a treacherous Zionist bombing”. In another, the group said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has also offered his condolences.
Yemen’s spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam has given his views on the recent killing as he said, “These great sacrifices, along with the rest of the people of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, only strengthen the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the face of this Israeli arrogance,”.
