Live Updates: Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh martyred in 'Israeli attack' in Tehran

Days after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, Hamas named its Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar as chief of the group.

Yahya Sinwar, who has been a prominent figure in Gaza, is now set to lead Hamas during these challenging times. The decision comes as the group faces both internal and external pressures, and Sinwar's leadership is anticipated to steer Hamas through its current crisis.

Who is Yahya Sinwar?

Yahya Sinwar is the current leader of Hamas in Gaza, a position he has held since 2017. Prior to his leadership, he spent over 20 years in prison, where he learned Hebrew and studied Israeli media to gain a deeper understanding of his adversary. Sinwar's time in prison reportedly allowed him to develop expertise in psychological warfare.

He has been associated with Hamas since its early days and was close to the organization's co-founders, Ahmed Yassin and Mahmoud al-Zahar. According to reports, Sinwar was granted a fatwa by Yassin to target individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel.

After his release from prison, Sinwar led Hamas's internal security branch, the Majd Force, which focuses on identifying and eliminating suspected Israeli informants. There have been reports of him overseeing harsh punishments, including a incident where a suspected informant was forced to bury his own brother alive.

At 62, Sinwar is considered one of the younger leaders of Hamas and is part of the organization's top leadership in Gaza. He is credited with being the strategic mastermind behind recent operations, including the October 7 incursion.

Meta -  the parent company of Facebook and Instagram -  issued an apology on Tuesday after removing social media posts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The posts were deleted due to what Meta described as an "operational error."

Anwar's office had summoned Meta representatives to explain the removal of the posts, which included a video of the prime minister offering condolences via phone call and an Instagram note linking the content to "dangerous individuals and organisations."

Meta has since restored the posts and re-labeled them with appropriate newsworthy tags.

The removal sparked criticism from Anwar's office, which described it as "a blatant suppression of free expression." The premier had previously accused Meta of "cowardice" in response to the deletion.

The incident follows the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an attack blamed on Israel, which has not directly addressed the matter. Israel, the United States, and the European Union classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Anwar, who met Haniyeh in Qatar earlier this year, has defended Malaysia's relations with Hamas, emphasizing that the country's connections are with the group's political wing rather than its military arm.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman -  the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) -  met with Hamas leaders in Qatar to express his condolences over the recent martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh.

Rehman’s visit, which came after his arrival from Jeddah, included significant discussions with Palestinian and Hamas officials.

During his time in Qatar, Rehman held a notable meeting with Khaled Mashal, a prominent Hamas leader.

In his statements, Rehman expressed profound sorrow over Haniyeh’s death, asserting that “the blood of martyr Ismail Haniyeh will not go in vain.”

He stressed that Haniyeh’s martyrdom would invigorate Palestine’s ongoing struggle for liberation, and he mourned alongside the broader Islamic world.

Rehman reiterated the duty of Muslims to liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque from what he described as Zionist occupation. He underscored the unwavering resolve of both Hamas leaders and the Palestinian populace in their quest for Al-Aqsa’s liberation, asserting that this struggle would not be abandoned.

The JUI-F chief also affirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Palestinian cause, reflecting a sentiment of unity with the broader Muslim Ummah in their fight for Palestinian freedom.

The recent death of Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s newly elected president Masoud Pezeshkian, has raised significant speculation. Haniyeh and his bodyguard were reportedly killed in an attack on an Iranian government guest house early Wednesday.

Initial reports suggested that a missile or rocket fired from outside Iranian borders was responsible for the attack. Iranian media, including the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, confirmed this account through statements from Khaled Qaddoumi, Hamas’ representative in Tehran.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Iran engaged in a telephonic conversation to discuss the emerging regional situation following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The call was initiated by Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri, who expressed deep sorrow on behalf of the Iranian nation and leadership over Haniyeh's killing.

During the call, Foreign Minister Dar conveyed the sentiments of the Pakistani people and said the prime minister had condemned the brutal murder of Ismail Haniyeh in the strongest terms. Dar highlighted that the National Assembly of Pakistan has also unanimously condemned this heinous act.

The deputy prime minister assured his counterpart of Pakistan's full support for convening an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers. "Will certainly participate in the OIC meeting," he stated. 

Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, was killed in an alleged Israeli attack in Tehran two days ago. The attack occurred at 2am while Haniyeh was sleeping, with a missile directly targeting him, also resulting in the death of his bodyguard.

Hamas issued a statement confirming Haniyeh's martyrdom, vowing serious consequences and labelling the attack as an act of cowardice that would be avenged.

Iran has declared its intention to take revenge for Haniyeh's murder, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the Israeli people that the coming months may be challenging for the country.

According to the New York Times, the explosives used in the assassination were hidden in Haniyeh's restroom two months prior, suggesting a premeditated plan to smuggle the bomb into the highly secure building. 

The telephonic conversation between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Iran highlights the ongoing tensions and the critical need for regional cooperation and dialogue in response to such incidents.

Iran has arrested more than two dozen individuals, including senior intelligence officers, military officials, and staff at a military-run guesthouse in Tehran, following a major security breach that allowed for the assassination of a top Hamas leader, according to two Iranians familiar with the investigation. 

The arrests followed the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in an explosion early Wednesday. Haniyeh, who had led Hamas’s political office in Qatar, was visiting Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new president and was staying at the guesthouse in northern Tehran. This event highlighted a significant security lapse, as the assassination occurred in a heavily guarded compound in the capital shortly after the new president's swearing-in ceremony.

Ali Vaez, the Iran director for the International Crisis Group, stated that the assassination undermines the perception of Iran's ability to protect its homeland and key allies, potentially signalling to adversaries that the regime is vulnerable. 

Also Read: These were Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's last words

Officials have suggested that the bomb responsible for Haniyeh's death was planted in his room up to two months before his arrival. Both Iranian and Hamas officials, as well as several U.S. officials, have accused Israel of the assassination. Israel, which aims to dismantle Hamas's capabilities, has not claimed responsibility.

The Revolutionary Guards Corps’ specialized intelligence unit has taken over the investigation, aiming to identify the members of the assassination team. The Guards have not disclosed any details of the arrests or the investigation but have promised severe retaliation, as echoed by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The intensity of the investigation reflects the assassination's significant impact on Iran's leadership. The blast, which also killed Haniyeh’s Palestinian bodyguard, was not just a security failure but a blow to Iran's reputation and an indication of potential Mossad infiltration.

The security breach has led to heightened concerns, particularly given Haniyeh's recent meeting with Khamenei. During Haniyeh’s funeral, Khamenei was surrounded by an unusually tight security detail. 

Also Read: Ismail Haniyeh martyred by explosive device in Tehran guesthouse: NYT report

The covert conflict between Iran and Israel has been ongoing for years, with Israel assassinating numerous Iranian scientists and commanders and conducting various sabotage operations. Iran has consistently vowed to find and punish the culprits, though with limited success.

Following Haniyeh’s assassination, Iranian security agents conducted a thorough search of the guesthouse, quarantined staff, and confiscated electronic devices. They also arrested senior military and intelligence officials involved in capital security. The investigation includes scrutinizing surveillance footage and flight lists from Tehran’s airports, with suspicions that Mossad operatives are still in the country.

A member of the Revolutionary Guards, speaking anonymously, indicated that security protocols have been overhauled, including changes to senior officials' security details and electronic equipment. Former President Hassan Rouhani stated that Israel's assassination of Haniyeh was an attempt to destabilize Iran at the start of a new government, emphasizing the need for cooperation among all security branches to counter the threat.

As if he knew his time had come, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's last words to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Ali Khamenei before he was assassinated in Tehran were a Quranic verse about life, death, immortality and resilience.

"It is Allah who gives life and causes death. And Allah is all-aware of all actions ... 'If a leader leaves, another will arise'," Haniyeh said in Arabic. A few hours later, he was killed in a suspected Israeli strike on his guest house.

The comment, broadcast on television as Haniyeh addressed Khamenei, reflected deeply-held Islamist beliefs that shaped his life and approach to the Palestinians' conflict with Israel, one inspired by the late Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who preached Holy Struggle (Jihad) against Israel in the 1980s.

Israel jailed and assassinated Yassin in 2004, but Hamas grew to become a powerful military force.

In a Reuters interview in Gaza in 1994, Haniyeh, who was buried in Qatar on Friday, said Yassin had taught them that Palestinians can only recover their occupied homeland through "the purified arms of its men and their struggle."

No Muslim should die in his bed while "Palestine" remains occupied, he quoted Yassin as saying.

For Palestinian supporters, Haniyeh and the rest of the Hamas leadership are fighters for liberation from Israeli occupation, keeping their cause alive when international diplomacy has failed them.

He said he learnt from Sheikh Yassin "the love of Islam and sacrifice for this Islam and not to kneel down to tyrants and despots."

Haniyeh became the tough-talking face of the Palestinian group's international diplomacy as war raged back in Gaza, where three of his sons - Hazem, Amir and Mohammad - and four of his grandchildren were killed in an Israeli air strike in April. At least 60 other members of his extended family were also killed in the Gaza war.

"The blood of my children is not more valuable than the blood of the children of the Palestinian people ... All the martyrs of Palestine are my children," he said after their deaths.

"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,” he said. “We say to the occupation that this blood will only make us more steadfast in our principles and attachment to our land.”

'Normalisation won't end conflict'

Appointed to the Hamas top job in 2017, Haniyeh moved between Turkey and Qatar's capital Doha, escaping the travel curbs of the blockaded Gaza Strip and enabling him to act as a negotiator in ceasefire talks or to speak with Hamas' ally Iran.

"All the agreements of normalisation that you (Arab states) signed with (Israel) will not end this conflict," Haniyeh declared shortly after Hamas fighters' Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 as hostages.

Israel's response to the attack has been a military campaign that has killed around 40,000 people inside Gaza so far, and bombed much of the enclave into rubble.

In May, the International Criminal Court prosecutor's office requested arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders including Haniyeh, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes. Israel and Palestinian leaders have dismissed the allegations.

Haniyeh is the third Hamas leader to be assassinated by Israel over the past two decades. Israel killed Sheikh Yassin and his successor Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi within a month of each other in helicopter air strikes in 2004

Khaled Meshaal, tipped to succeed Haniyeh as leader, escaped in 1997 a botched assassination attempt ordered by Netanyahu.

Adeeb Ziadeh, a specialist in Palestinian affairs at Qatar University, said Hamas is an ideology and the killing of Haniyeh will not finish off the group nor make it surrender.

"Every time Hamas lost one leader, another leader came, sometimes even stronger in his performance and fulfilling Hamas principles," Ziadeh said.

Israel said on Thursday that Mohammed Deif, one of the masterminds of the Oct. 7 attack, was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza last month. Saleh Al-Arouri, one of the founders of Hamas' military wing, was also killed in an Israeli drone strike on Beirut's southern suburbs in January 2024.

Military force

Hamas' 1988 founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although Hamas leaders have at times offered a long-term truce with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war. Israel regards this as a ruse.

In the decades since, Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israel and fought several wars with the Israeli army while steadily building up its ranks and military force. Hamas also sent suicide bombers into Israel in the 1990s and 2000s.

In 2012, when asked by Reuters if Hamas had abandoned the armed struggle, Haniyeh replied "of course not" and said resistance would continue "in all forms - popular resistance, political, diplomatic and military resistance".

Yet for all the tough language, in public, Arab diplomats and officials had viewed him as relatively moderate compared with more hardline members of the Iranian-backed group inside Gaza, where the military wing of Hamas led by Yahya Sinwar planned the Oct. 7 attack.

While telling Israel's military they would find themselves "drowning in the sands of Gaza", he and his predecessor Khaled Meshaal had shuttled around the region for talks over a Qatari-brokered ceasefire deal with Israel that includes exchanging hostages for Palestinians in Israeli jails.

Yet Haniyeh, a Sunni Muslim, had a major hand building up Hamas' fighting capacity, partly by nurturing ties with Shi'ite Muslim Iran, which makes no secret of its military and financial support for the group.

When he left Gaza in 2017, Haniyeh was succeeded as Hamas leader in the territory by Sinwar, a hardliner who spent more than two decades in Israeli prisons.

The US military will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Friday, as Washington seeks to bolster defenses following threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.

The US is bracing for Iran to make good on its vow to respond to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh two days ago in Tehran - one in a series of killings of senior figures in the Palestinian militant group as the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had approved sending additional Navy cruisers and destroyers-- which can shoot down ballistic missiles-- to the Middle East and Europe.

It is also sending an additional squadron of fighter jets to the Middle East.

"Austin has ordered adjustments to U.S. military posture designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies," the Pentagon said in a statement.

There had been speculation that the Pentagon might not replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group in the Middle East once it completed its ongoing deployment. But Austin decided to rotate in the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier strike group to replace it.

The Pentagon statement added it would increase readiness to deploy more land-based ballistic missile defenses.

The U.S. military also intensified deployments prior to April 13, when Iran launched an attack on Israeli territory with drones and missiles. Still, the threat from Hezbollah in Lebanon could present unique challenges to any efforts by the United States to intercept drones and missiles given the group's vast arsenal and immediate proximity to Israel.

At the time, Israel successfully knocked down almost all of the roughly 300 drones and missiles with the help of the United States and other allies.

Biden, in a phone call on Thursday with Netanyahu, discussed new U.S. defensive military deployments to support Israel against threats such as missiles and drones, the White House said.

Iran and Hamas have both accused Israel of carrying out the killing and have pledged to retaliate against their foe. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the death nor denied it.

Haniyeh's death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel nears its 11th month and concern grows that the conflict is spreading across the Middle East.

Earlier, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. did not believe escalation was inevitable.

"I think we are being very direct in our messaging that certainly we don't want to see heightened tensions and we do believe there is an off ramp here and that is that ceasefire deal," Singh said.

An Israeli delegation will travel to Cairo in coming days for negotiations to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday.

The Israeli police have arrested Sheikh Ikrama Sabri, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Higher Islamic Council, following his tribute to the martyred Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

According to Arab media reports, Sheikh Sabri paid homage to Haniyeh during his Friday prayer sermon, which led to his arrest at his residence.

Sheikh Sabri was taken to the Masqubia detention center after the arrest. Before being detained, he spoke to the Arab media, asserting that the accusations of incitement made against him by Israeli Interior Minister Itmar Ben Gweir and National Security Minister Moshe Arbel were unfounded.

Sheikh Sabri defended his tribute, explaining that it was delivered from a religious perspective and questioning how it could be construed as incitement. He also highlighted the irony of being accused of provocation in a context that supposedly values freedom of expression.

The arrest came after several Israeli ministers demanded action against Sheikh Sabri for his praise of Ismail Haniyeh. An Israeli police spokesperson confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine if the imam's statements were indeed provocative, and appropriate measures will be taken based on the findings.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led tributes to the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, saying the entire Pakistan and the broader Muslim world mourned the loss.

In a heartfelt address to the National Assembly, Prime Minister Sharif condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and demanded that Israel be held accountable for it. He emphasized the need for international accountability and support for Palestinians.

He said Pakistan condemned all forms of terrorism, including extrajudicial killings. "Whoever is involved in this incident, the Zionist state must be brought to justice. The Zionist state reflects Israel's brutal actions," he stated. 

He condemned the “worst brutality” faced by Palestinians, expressed solidarity with them and described Palestine as a “slaughterhouse” where more than 40,000 people had been killed. "A large number of women have been martyred, and entire settlements have become graveyards." 

He asked when this injustice and cruelty will end and said everyone who believes in human rights is raising questions. “Today, the claims of universal justice are themselves found guilty." He said the Zionist regime has ignored every ceasefire appeal against the crimes against humanity. 

The PM further said that if the massacre of innocent people did not stop, no one would be able to contain the public anger. "Shutting eyes won't work any more," he remarked. 

PM Sharif said the entire Pakistan was observing mourning over the death of Ismail Haniyeh on Friday, adding that oppressed Palestinians will be given medical aid in Pakistan and Palestinian students admitted to medical colleges in the country. 

Funeral in absentia

Apart from different parts of the country, Ismail Haniyeh's funeral prayers in absentia were offered at Parliament House after the Friday prayers. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also attended the funeral prayer at Parliament House, which were attended by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, members of the federal cabinet and parliament. 

Resolution passed unanimously

Before the PM's address, the usual proceedings of the National Assembly were suspended and a resolution was unanimously passed expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemning Israeli brutality. The resolution, presented by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar against the Israeli attack on Ismail Haniyeh, called for immediate action from the UN Security Council to halt the genocide and bring justice to those responsible for the violence.

The resolution also condemned all forms of terrorism and emphasized Pakistan's support for the Palestinian cause.

According to the text of the resolution, Israel is not halting its attacks on Palestinians, adding that Pakistan condemned Israeli aggression in Palestine. "Pakistan stands with its Palestinian brothers," it said further. 

Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent figure in the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, was martyred by an explosive device while staying in a guesthouse in Tehran.

According to the New York Times, the explosives were planted about two months prior to the incident.

The explosion occurred when Haniyeh’s presence in the guesthouse was confirmed. The guesthouse, located within the Neshat compound in northern Tehran, was under the security of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

The explosion, which occurred around 2am local time, was remotely triggered and caused significant damage, shattering windows and partially collapsing an exterior wall.

The report, citing seven officials including two Iranians and one American, detailed that the explosives had been planted around two months prior to the incident.

Despite the severe impact of the blast, the building itself sustained minimal damage beyond the shattered windows and collapsed wall, suggesting that the attack was not a missile strike.

The NYT report, quoting five Middle Eastern officials, emphasized the meticulous planning involved in hiding the bomb in the guesthouse months in advance.

The Pakistani nation is observing a day of mourning across the country today in solidarity with Palestinians, and to condemn the ongoing Israeli brutalities in Gaza.

The decision was taken in a consultative meeting of the government-allied parties held in Islamabad on Thursday under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the deteriorating situation in Palestine.

In a joint declaration, it was announced that the funeral prayer in absentia for Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of the political bureau of Hamas, who was killed in Tehran on Wednesday, will be offered after Friday prayers across the country.

The meeting also resolved to present a resolution in parliament to express full solidarity with the people of Palestine. Participants of the meeting strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli brutalities in Palestine over the past nine months and expressed unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian brothers and sisters.

The declaration further urged the international community, including the United Nations, to break their silence and take immediate action to halt the ongoing genocide of the oppressed Palestinians by Zionist forces and to bring Israel to justice for war crimes.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking on the occasion, remarked that the silence of the international community over the ongoing Israeli barbarism in Palestine is a matter of grave concern. He condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, stating that Israel has grossly violated resolutions adopted by international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council and decisions of the International Court of Justice.

Prime Minister Sharif highlighted that the International Court of Justice has declared Israel's actions as genocide. He emphasized that preventing Israel from continuing this genocide is a significant challenge for the modern world. However, he expressed appreciation for the countries that have condemned the ongoing Israeli oppression in Gaza.

Leaders from various political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-N, Pakistan People's Party, Balochistan Awami Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League Zia, and the National Party, participated in the discussion. The participants unanimously condemned the Israeli actions and expressed deep sorrow over the death of Haniyeh in Tehran.

Moreover, the participants viewed Haniyeh's assassination as a deliberate attempt to disrupt efforts towards peace in the region and to continue the persecution of Palestinians.

The resolution, to be presented in parliament, will reiterate Pakistan's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and condemn the Israeli government's actions. The participants stressed the importance of a unified international response to stop the genocide and bring Israel to justice for its war crimes against Palestinians.

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it can now confirmed that eliminated Hamas military leader.

Daif Mohammad was the most wanted Palestinian military leader by the state of Israel.

On July 14, Mohammed Deif, the military commander of Hamas in Gaza, has escaped another Israeli attempt to kill him and is doing “fine”, a senior official of the Palestinian group says.

The Hamas official’s statement stated that Deif was targeted in a massive Israeli air strike on the besieged territory’s southern area that killed at least 90 people and wounded 300 others.

“Commander Mohammed Deif is well and directly overseeing” the operations of the Hamas military wing, the official told AFP news agency.

Israel said bombing of the al-Mawasi camp, a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza, was aimed at killing Deif, who has long topped Israel’s most wanted list.

In response to the Hamas claim, Israel’s Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi said in a televised statement on Sunday that Hamas is “concealing the results” of its air strike on a compound where Deif was allegedly hiding.

 “It is still too soon to sum up the results of the attack, those which Hamas is trying to hide,” Halevi said.

Deif was one of the founders of Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, in the 1990s and has led the force for more than 20 years. He is also said to be a key figure who planned suicide bombings leading to the deaths of dozens of Israelis.

Israel identified him and Hamas’s Gaza leader, Yahya Sinwar, as the chief architects of the October 7 attack that killed at least 1,139 people in southern Israel and triggered its war on Gaza.

On the morning of October 7, Hamas had issued a rare voice recording of Deif announcing the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, signalling the attack was payback for Israeli raids at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site.

Deif, 58, rarely speaks or appears in public. So when Hamas’s TV channel announced he was to speak on October 7, Palestinians in Gaza knew something significant was afoot.

Speaking in a calm voice in the recording, Deif said Hamas had repeatedly warned Israel to stop its crimes against Palestinians, to release the prisoners, and to halt its expropriation of Palestinian land.

“Today the rage of Al-Aqsa, the rage of our people and nation is exploding. Our mujahedeen [fighters], today is your day to make this criminal understand that his time has ended,” Deif said.

Israel will respond forcefully to any attack on it, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, after the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and of a senior Hezbollah leader in Beirut.

Netanyahu said Israel had delivered crushing blows to Iran's proxies over the past few days, including Hamas and Hezbollah. But he did not mention Haniyeh's killing, which has drawn threats of revenge on Israel and fuelled further concern that the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war.

"Citizens of Israel, challenging days lie ahead. Since the strike in Beirut there are threats sounding from all directions. We are prepared for any scenario and we will stand united and determined against any threat. Israel will exact a heavy price for any aggression against us from any arena," Netanyahu said in a televised statement. 

Also Read: Hamas vows to avenge martyrdom of leader Ismail Haniyeh

Israel's military announced late on Tuesday it had killed Fuad Shukr, whom it named as Hezbollah's most senior commander and whom it blamed for an attack at the weekend that left a dozen youngsters dead in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Shukr was an adviser to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, according to Hezbollah sources and to Israeli officials.

Iran-backed Hezbollah confirmed his death on Wednesday, hours after the Palestinian armed group Hamas announced its leader, Haniyeh, had been assassinated in Teheran.

Although the Tehran attack was widely assumed to have been carried out by Israel, Netanyahu's government made no claim of responsibility and said it would make no comment on Haniyeh's killing.

Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has issued a statement mourning Haniyeh’s assassination, saying Israel had killed the “great man” because it “feared and hated everything he stood for”.

Mahathir, who served as Malaysia’s premier for 24 years between 1981 and 2020, described Haniyeh as “a soft-spoken man, yet with the heart of a lion”.

“His courage to stand up for his people obviously stemmed from a clear conscience and guided by a moral compass that is based on humanity and religious conviction,” Mahathir said.

“They may kill Mr. Haniyeh but not his ideas and what he stood for,” he said.

Khaled Meshaal, tipped to be the new Hamas leader, became known around the world in 1997 after Israeli agents injected him with poison in a botched assassination attempt on a street outside his office in the Jordanian capital Amman.

The hit against a key senior figure of the Palestinian militant group, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, so enraged Jordan's then-King Hussein that he spoke of hanging the would-be killers and scrapping Jordan's peace treaty with Israel unless the antidote was handed over.

Israel did so, and also agreed to free Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, only to assassinate him seven years later in Gaza.

For Israelis and Western states, the Iran-backed Hamas, which has directed suicide bombings in Israel and fought frequent wars against it, is a terrorist group bent on Israel's destruction.

For Palestinian supporters, Meshaal and the rest of the Hamas leadership are fighters for liberation from Israeli occupation, keeping their cause alive when international diplomacy has failed them.

Meshaal, 68, became Hamas' political leader in exile the year before Israel tried to eliminate him, a post that enabled him to represent the Palestinian Islamist group at meetings with foreign governments around the world, unhindered by tight Israeli travel restrictions that affected other Hamas officials.

Hamas sources said Meshaal is expected to be chosen as paramount leader of the group to replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Iran in the early hours of Wednesday, with Tehran and Hamas vowing retribution against Israel.

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, who is based in Qatar and has headed Hamas negotiators in indirect Gaza truce talks with Israel, has also been a possibility for the leadership as he is a favourite of Iran and its allies in the region. 

Also Read: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's funeral prayers held in Iran, led by supreme leader

Meshaal's relations with Iran have been strained due to his past support for the Sunni Muslim-led revolt in 2011 against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Israel has assassinated or tried to kill several Hamas leaders and operatives since the group was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising against the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

Meshaal has been a central figure at the top of Hamas since the late 1990s, though he has worked mostly from the relative safety of exile as Israel plotted to assassinate other prominent Hamas figures based in the Gaza Strip.

After the wheelchair-bound Yassin was killed in a March 2004 airstrike, Israel assassinated his successor Abdel-Aziz Al-Rantissi in Gaza a month later, and Meshaal assumed the overall leadership of Hamas.

Like other Hamas leaders, Meshaal has grappled with the critical issue of whether to adopt a more pragmatic approach to Israel in pursuit of Palestinian statehood - Hamas' 1988 charter calls for Israel's destruction - or keep fighting.

Softens stand on Israel

Meshaal rejects the idea of a permanent peace deal with Israel but has said that Hamas, which in the 1990s and 2000s sent suicide bombers into Israel, could accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem as a temporary solution in return for a long-term ceasefire.

The Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants from Gaza, which killed 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of over 250 people, according to Israeli tallies, made the militant group's priorities clear.

Israel retaliated with airstrikes and an invasion of Gaza that have killed over 39,000 Palestinians, pursuing a campaign to eradicate Hamas that has reduced much of the densely populated coastal enclave to rubble.

Meshaal said the Oct. 7 Hamas attack returned the Palestinian cause to the centre of the world agenda.

He urged Arabs and Muslims to join the battle against Israel and said Palestinians alone would decide who runs Gaza after the current war ends, in defiance of Israel and the United States who want to exclude Hamas from post-war governance.

Joined Muslim Brotherhood at 15

Meshaal has lived most of his life outside the Palestinian territories. Born in Silwad near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Meshaal moved as a boy with his family to the Gulf Arab state of Kuwait, a hotbed of pro-Palestinian sentiment.

At the age of 15 he joined the Muslim Brotherhood, the Middle East's oldest Islamist group. The Brotherhood became instrumental in the formation of Hamas in the late 1980s during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.

Meshaal became a schoolteacher before turning to lobbying for Hamas from abroad for many years while other leaders of the group have languished for long periods in Israeli jails.

He was in charge of international fund-raising in Jordan when he barely escaped assassination.

Netanyahu played an accidental but important role in establishing Meshaal's militant credentials when he ordered Mossad agents to kill him in 1997 in retaliation for a Jerusalem market bombing that killed 16 people and was blamed on Hamas. 

Also Read: Hamas vows to avenge martyrdom of leader Ismail Haniyeh

The suspected assassins were caught by Jordanian police after Meshaal was injected with poison in the street. Netanyahu, then in his first term as premier, was forced to hand over the antidote for the poison, and the incident turned Meshaal into a hero of the Palestinian resistance.

Jordan eventually closed Hamas' bureau in Amman and expelled Meshaal to the Gulf state of Qatar. He moved to Syria in 2001.

Meshaal ran Hamas, a Sunni Muslim movement, from exile in Damascus in 2004 until January 2012 when he left the Syrian capital because of President Assad's fierce crackdown on Sunnis involved in an uprising against him. Meshaal now divides his time between Doha and Cairo.

His abrupt departure from Syria initially weakened his position within Hamas, as ties with Damascus and Tehran, which were vital for the group, gave him power. With those links damaged or broken, rivals based within Gaza, the birthplace of Hamas, began to assert their authority.

Meshaal himself told Reuters that his move affected relations with Hamas' main paymaster and weapons supplier Iran - a country Israel believes poses by far the greatest threat to it because of its ambitious nuclear programme.

In December 2012, Meshaal paid his first visit to the Gaza Strip and delivered the main speech at Hamas' 25th anniversary rally. He had not visited the Palestinian territories since leaving the West Bank at age 11.

While he was abroad, Hamas asserted itself over its secular rival, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which has been open to negotiating peace with Israel, by seizing control of Gaza from the PA in a brief 2007 civil war.

Friction between Meshaal and the Gaza-based Hamas leadership surfaced over his attempts to promote reconciliation with President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads the Palestinian Authority.

Meshaal then announced that he wanted to step down as leader over such tensions and in 2017 was replaced by his Gaza deputy Haniyeh, who was elected to head the group's political office, also operating overseas.

In 2021, Meshaal was elected to head the Hamas office in the Palestinian diaspora.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has led the funeral prayers at a memorial for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at Tehran University in the Iranian capital, as reported by state-run Press TV.

Following the prayers, the procession will move towards Azadi (Freedom) Square, and Haniyeh’s body will be flown to Doha for burial. In Doha, the funeral prayers would be held at Imam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab Mosque after the Friday prayers.

The funeral prayers were attended by important government officials of Iran. Speaker of the Iranian parliament Muhammad Baqir Ghalib said Haniyeh was the voice of the Palestinian people all over the world. 

Haniyeh was assassinated at his residence in Tehran on Wednesday, with Hamas accusing Israel of the attack. Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, spoke at the funeral.

“The nation today is carrying his coffin, and the nation today is raising the flag of jihad and resistance towards the goal of liberating Palestine and Jerusalem,” al-Hayya said. “With the faith of our country, and the Palestinian soul, we are sure that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh will bring anger towards this Zionist entity from the entire people of the world.” 

Foad Izadi, an associate professor at Tehran University, highlighted the significance of the assassination occurring in Tehran, suggesting it could provoke a strong response from Iran. “When you have a high-ranking official assassinated in the capital city, this is a shock,” Izadi told Al Jazeera.

Izadi noted that Iran is honouring Haniyeh with significant reverence, the same treatment given to the late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi.

Meanwhile, John Kirby, the US national security adviser, stated that Washington remains undeterred by increasing tensions in the Middle East following Haniyeh's assassination. Despite the volatile situation, Kirby emphasized that the US continues its efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

Kirby highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the impact of the incident in Tehran on the broader Middle East and the ongoing peace efforts.

“It is too early to say how much the incident in Tehran will affect the Middle East or what effect it will have on efforts to end the war,” Kirby remarked. He noted that US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation but refrained from attributing responsibility for Haniyeh’s murder to any party.

“Can't say anything yet whether Ismail Haniyeh's murder is Israel's work or not,” he added.

Furthermore, Kirby disclosed that no one has yet been questioned about the attack. In light of the heightened tensions, the White House National Security Council reaffirmed its commitment to reducing hostilities in the region.

“Efforts are being made to reduce tensions in the region,” stated the council.

The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent Hamas leader, has added another layer of complexity to the already tense geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. As nations and factions navigate the fallout, the U.S. remains focused on its diplomatic mission to secure peace and stability in the region.

Republican Senator Markoin Mullin has said in a statement on the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh that like the way the US defended itself by chasing Osama bin Laden in Pakistan after 9/11, Israel had the right to defend itself after October 7, 2023.

"Israel's opponents are everywhere. They should have the right to pursue them."

On the other hand, Hamas has declared its intent to seek retribution for the martyrdom of its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran, Iran.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya emphasized Haniyeh’s dedication to religion and country throughout his life.

Hayya described Ismail Haniyeh’s life as one of hardship, often lived in adverse conditions across various countries. He firmly stated that Hamas would not leave China without addressing Haniyeh’s martyrdom.

He clarified that Haniyeh was in a secret location in Iran and was not isolated from his people. He dismissed claims of an intelligence success behind Haniyeh’s assassination, describing the event as a targeted missile strike.

The Hamas leader dismissed claims that Haniyeh’s death represents an intelligence success, asserting instead that it resulted from a missile attack. The missile reportedly broke a window before hitting Haniyeh directly, and the full details of the investigation are still pending.

Hayya accused Israel of escalating regional tensions and endangering global stability by continuing its military aggression. He asserted that Israel is uninterested in peace agreements or deals, preferring to perpetuate conflict instead.

Hamas has declared its intent to seek retribution for the martyrdom of its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran, Iran.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya emphasized Haniyeh’s dedication to religion and country throughout his life.

Hayya described Ismail Haniyeh’s life as one of hardship, often lived in adverse conditions across various countries. He firmly stated that Hamas would not leave China without addressing Haniyeh’s martyrdom.

He clarified that Haniyeh was in a secret location in Iran and was not isolated from his people. He dismissed claims of an intelligence success behind Haniyeh’s assassination, describing the event as a targeted missile strike.

The Hamas leader dismissed claims that Haniyeh’s death represents an intelligence success, asserting instead that it resulted from a missile attack. The missile reportedly broke a window before hitting Haniyeh directly, and the full details of the investigation are still pending.

Hayya accused Israel of escalating regional tensions and endangering global stability by continuing its military aggression. He asserted that Israel is uninterested in peace agreements or deals, preferring to perpetuate conflict instead.

Despite the loss, he assured that the resistance movement led by Hamas will continue its efforts with renewed determination.

The death of Ismail Haniyeh has further intensified the ongoing conflict and heightened tensions in the region, as Hamas prepares to respond to what it views as a grievous act of aggression.

Earlier today, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran, the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said in separate statements.

The prime minister of Qatar, which has acted as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, suggested on Wednesday that the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh could jeopardize efforts to secure a truce in Gaza.

"Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on other side?" Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani wrote on X.

"Peace needs serious partners & a global stance against the disregard for human life."

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have repeatedly tried to secure a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed more than 39,000 Palestinians since Hamas-led fighters attacked Israel in October, killing 1,200 people.

Hostage-ceasefire negotiations still ongoing

A final deal to halt more than nine months of war has been complicated by changes sought by Israel, sources have told Reuters.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who mainly resided in Qatar, was assassinated in the early hours of the morning in Iran, drawing fears of a wider escalation in a region shaken by Israel's war in Gaza and a worsening conflict in Lebanon.

Qatar strongly condemned the killing in Tehran, saying it was a dangerous escalation.

Pakistan has strongly condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of the political bureau of Hamas, who was killed in Tehran on Wednesday.

The Pakistani government has expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended heartfelt condolences to Haniyeh's family and the people of Palestine. "We extend our condolences to his family and the people of Palestine," a statement from the Foreign Office said.

The statement denounced the killing, categorizing it as an instance of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings. "Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings irrespective of the motives," the statement said. 

Also Read: Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh martyred in 'Israeli attack' in Tehran

"We are deeply shocked by the timing of this reckless act, coinciding with the inauguration of the President of Iran, an event attended by several foreign dignitaries, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan," the statement added.

Pakistan has expressed serious concern over what it views as increasing Israeli adventurism in the region. The Foreign Office emphasized that such actions constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region and significantly undermine ongoing efforts for peace. 

Also Read: Global reactions to Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Iran

"Pakistan views with serious concern the growing Israeli adventurism in the region. Its latest acts constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region and undermine efforts for peace," the statement concluded.

In light of these developments, Pakistan calls for restraint and urges the international community to work towards de-escalating tensions in the region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that a ceasefire in Gaza was the “imperative,” after the assassination of Hamas’s political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran’s capital Tehran.

Speaking at a forum in Singapore, Blinken refused to comment directly on the killing of Haniyeh.

He said reaching a ceasefire in Gaza “is the enduring imperative.”

The US is not involved in the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken has said that a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza is important, the best way to reduce tensions is a ceasefire.

The funeral prayer of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh will be held in Tehran on Thursday at 8 am local time in Iran.

After the funeral prayer, Ismail Haniyeh’s body will be shifted to Qatar’s capital Doha on Thursday.

The funeral prayer of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh will be held at the Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab Mosque in Doha after Friday prayers.

The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran has drawn significant reactions from Pakistani leaders, who expressed profound sorrow and called for nationwide protests and actions against Israeli aggression.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman

JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed deep sorrow and regret over the killing of Ismail Haniyeh. "The JUI shares the grief of Ismail Haniyeh's family and the Palestinian people," he stated. He emphasized that the murder of Haniyeh would not end the Palestinian freedom movement and highlighted the spirit of martyrdom he observed in his meetings with Haniyeh. 

"The sacrifices of his family will not go in vain," Maulana added. He also announced plans to present a resolution in the National Assembly to recognize Ismail Haniyeh's services, with similar resolutions to be presented in the Senate, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan assemblies.

Fazl also called for nationwide recitation of the Quran and prayers for Haniyeh in schools, madrassas and at homes. "There will be massive demonstrations against the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh and Israeli aggression across the country on Friday," he declared.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq strongly condemned the attack on Ismail Haniyeh, describing it as a "shameful example of brutality and aggression." He expressed deep sorrow over Haniyeh's death and condemned the attack as a violation of international laws and values.

"Ismail Haniyeh and his family's sacrifices in the freedom struggle are unforgettable, which will never go in vain," Sadiq said, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian government and people. "Ismail Haniyeh's sacrifices for the freedom of Palestine will always be remembered." 

Mushahid Hussain Syed

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed mourned the loss of the "great warrior" Ismail Haniyeh and noted the historical context of two similar assassinations, referencing the deaths of Fatah leader Abu Jihad in 1988 in Tunis and Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin in Gaza in 2004.

Mushahid observed that Haniyeh's martyrdom had dealt a huge setback to the Palestinian liberation struggle, which would now intensify, and criticized Israeli actions as state terrorism. 

"Netanyahu knows he is the biggest war criminal in the world. The day the Gaza war ends, it will be the political death of Netanyahu." Mushahid remarked, calling Haniyeh's killing a failure of the Iranian intelligence. 

He further remarked that the fear of America and Israel should end, adding that Hamas had been resisting alone for eight months. "Israel has morally lost the war," he added. He further observed that only American can stop Israel. 

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman

In an interview with Samaa TV, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman condemned Israeli actions as "a terrible move" and criticized the silence of Muslim countries, which he argued strengthens Israel. He says there was no one to rein in Israel. 

He called for a more proactive stance from the Muslim world and questioned the inaction of the 40-country Islamic military coalition. "From the condemnation statement, the time has come for action," Rehman urged, highlighting the need for concrete measures against Israeli aggression.

He then expressed condolences with the entire Muslim world. 

Nationwide protests and condolences

In response to Haniyeh's martyrdom, Pakistani leaders have announced plans for nationwide protests on Friday. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, along with other political figures, called for massive demonstrations and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause. The leaders' statements reflect a broader call for action against what they describe as Israeli aggression and a reaffirmation of support for the Palestinian freedom movement.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran on Wednesday, the Palestinian group Hamas and Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said in separate statements.

The following is how the world has reacted to it:

Abdul Salam Haniyeh, a son of Ismail Haniyeh

"My father survived four assassination attempts during his patriotic journey, and today Allah has granted him the martyrdom that he always wished for.

"He was very keen to establish national unity and strived for the unity of all Palestinian factions and we affirm that this assassination will not deter the resistance, which will fight until freedom is achieved."

Iran

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that his country will defend its territorial integrity and dignity. "The occupiers and terrorists will regret the cowardly act of killing Ismail Haniyeh."

"The blood of martyr Ismail Haniyeh will never go in vain. Haniyeh's martyrdom in Tehran will strengthen the deep and unbreakable bond between Tehran, Palestine, and the resistance," said the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran will strengthen the deep and unbreakable relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Meanwhile, Iran has called a meeting of its high-level security leadership over the assassination of the Hamas leader. Iran's Supreme National Security Council will decide about responding to the killing in Tehran. Senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guards will also participate in the meeting. 

Palestine

After the martyrdom of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Palestinian groups have announced a strike and mass demonstrations, reported a British news agency. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned Haniyeh's murder. 

"The killing of Ismail Haniyeh is a cowardly act and a dangerous development," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said. "The Palestinian people should remain united against Israel, and act with patience and perseverance."

Russia

"This is an absolutely unacceptable political murder, and it will lead to further escalation of tensions,” said Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

Houthis

"Targeting Ismail Haniyeh is a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values,” said Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, the head of Yemen's Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee. "The killing of the head of Hamas will make the resistance organization Hamas more determined to confront Israel."

Turkey

"We offer our condolences to the Palestinian people who have given hundreds of thousands of martyrs like Haniyeh in order to live in peace in their own homeland, under the roof of their own state.

"It has been revealed once again that the Netanyahu Government has no intention of achieving peace.

"This attack also aims to spread the war in Gaza to a regional level. If the international community does not take action to stop Israel, our region will face much greater conflicts,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.  

Qatar

"Qatar strongly condemns the assassination of Dr. Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and considers this a heinous crime and a dangerous escalation, as well as a major violation of international and humanitarian laws.

"The foreign ministry affirms that this assassination and Israel's reckless, continuous targeting of civialians in Gaza will push the region into a circle of chaos, as well as limit the prospects of peace."

Malaysia

"Malaysia unequivocally condemns all acts of violence, including targeted assassination, and urges all peace-loving nations to join in denouncing such acts.

"The incident underscores the urgent need for de-escalation and reinforces the necessity for all parties to engage in constructive dialogue and pursue peaceful resolutions."

China

China had strongly opposed and condemned the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and expressed concern over it. 

"A ceasefire in Gaza must be reached as soon as possible to avoid further escalation of conflict and tensions. China has always advocated resolving regional disputes through dialogue and negotiation."

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has responded to questions from reporters about the potential for regional escalation following the reported assassination of Haniyeh on Wednesday, as well as Israel’s claim it killed a Hezbollah commander in Beirut on Tuesday.

“I don’t think war is inevitable. I maintain that. I think there’s always room and opportunities for diplomacy,” Austin said, adding that the US would “work hard to make sure that we’re doing things to help take the temperature down”.

Asked if he could confirm information about the strike that killed Haniyeh, Austin said: “I don’t have any additional information to provide.”

Israel–United States relations

The United States of America was the first country to recognize the nascent State of Israel.

Since the 1960s, the American-Israeli relationship has evolved into a mutually beneficial alliance encompassing economic, strategic, and military aspects.

The US has provided strong support for Israel and has played a key role in fostering good relations between Israel and its neighboring Arab states—particularly Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt—while countering hostility from countries such as Syria and Iran.

In return, Israel offers a strategic foothold in the region for the U.S., along with intelligence and advanced technological partnerships in both civilian and military domains.

During the Cold War, Israel served as a vital counterbalance to Soviet influence in the region.

Relations with Israel are a crucial element of the U.S. government's overall foreign policy in the Middle East.

The price of WTI Crude Oil (Light Sweet) on the NYMEX Stock Exchange has risen by 0.56%, reaching $75.84 per barrel.

The uptick comes in the wake of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East following the reported killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The surge in oil prices reflects market concerns over potential disruptions in supply amid escalating regional instability.

Brent Crude Oil price at London’s IСE Stock Exchange up by 0.31% to $79.65 per barrel, “Armenpress” reports.

Read more: Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh martyred in 'Israeli attack' in Tehran

Barrel is the unit of measurement of oil volume. One barrel equals to 159.98 liter.

New York’s NYMEХ (New York Mercantile Exchange) is a US futures market founded in 1882.

It ranks first in oil futures trade. Currently trade is carried out by the exchange’s two divisions, the NYMEX Division and the COMEX Division, the first one designed for trades of oil, gas, platinum, palladium, ethanol, coal, electricity and carbon dioxide emissions, the second one for gold, silver, copper and aluminum.

London Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is a London-based options exchange and a leading operator of global exchanges founded in 1982.

Israel's military claimed it killed Hezbollah's most senior commander in an airstrike on Beirut on Tuesday, in retaliation for a cross-border rocket attack that killed 12 youngsters three days ago which it blamed on the Lebanese armed group.

A loud blast was heard and a plume of smoke could be seen rising above Beirut's southern suburbs - a stronghold of the Iran-backed Hezbollah - at around 1640 GMT, a Reuters witness said.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the strike killed Fuad Shukr, who "has the blood of many Israelis on his hands. Tonight, we have shown that the blood of our people has a price, and that there is no place out of reach for our forces to this end."

There was no immediate response from Hezbollah. The group has denied involvement in a rocket strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday that killed 12 youth in a football field in the Druze village of Majdal Shams.

A senior security source from another country in the region confirmed Shukr had died of wounds sustained in the strike.

Israel's military said Shukr was the most important aide to Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, his adviser for wartime operations and in charge of Saturday's attack.

The Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut also killed three civilians including two children, medical and security sources told Reuters.

Lebanon's Al Manar TV cited the Lebanese health ministry as reporting 74 people injured along with three killed in the attack around Hezbollah's Shura Council, a decision-making body, in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood.

Reuters footage showed a multi-storey building in the southern suburb that appeared to have a top corner sheared off. Charred debris littered the streets below, where crowds gathered to chant in support of the Hezbollah leader.

Hezbollah has denied involvement in the Golan attack, but said the group fired rockets at a military target in the Golan Heights. The killing of the youths prompted a high-level Western diplomatic flurry to avert a major escalation that could inflame the wider Middle East.

UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert called for calm to prevail amid escalating tensions and called on Israel and Lebanon to explore all diplomatic avenues to end hostilities.

"There is no such thing as a military solution," she said in a statement.

Tuesday's strike on Beirut prompted widespread condemnation by Lebanese officials and Hezbollah's regional allies including Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, Syria and Iran, which backs all three of the groups.

The White House, which previously also attributed Saturday's attack to Hezbollah, reiterated its commitment to Israel's security against "all Iran-backed threats including Hezbollah" and said it was working on a diplomatic solution.

The Israeli military said it had issued no new instructions for civil defence in Israel, a possible indication that Israel did not plan further strikes immediately. Channel 12 TV quoted an unnamed official as saying Israel did not want an all-out war.

Israeli media reported that depending on the Hezbollah reaction, the military considered the Beirut strike as concluding the response to the Golan Heights attack.

There were about 25 rockets launched from south Lebanon into northern Israel throughout the day, the Israeli military said. Medics reported a 30-year-old man in the cooperative community of Kibbutz Hagoshrim was killed.

Concerns about escalation

Lebanon's foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, said his government condemned the Israeli strike and planned to file a complaint to the United Nations.

"We were not expecting them to hit Beirut and they hit Beirut," he told Reuters, saying he hoped Hezbollah's response would not trigger an escalation.

"Hopefully any response will be proportionate and will not be more than that, so that this wave of killing, hitting and shelling will stop," he said.

Hours before the strike, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he did not believe a fight was inevitable between Hezbollah and Israel, though he remained concerned about the potential for escalation.

Hezbollah and Israel, which last fought each other in a major war in 2006, have been trading fire since the eruption of the Gaza war in October, after Hezbollah began firing at Israeli targets in what it says is solidarity with the Palestinians.

The hostilities have mostly been limited to the frontier region and both sides have previously indicated they do not seek a wider confrontation even as the conflict has prompted worry about the risk of a slide towards war.

Gaza-based Islamist group Hamas said it is "ready to pay various prices" after Haniyeh's killing.

CNN reported that a Hamas official said the group is “ready to pay various prices,” after its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran.

Sami Abu Zuhri said: “We are engaged in an open war to liberate Jerusalem and we are ready to pay various prices.”

The killing of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, “will not pass in vain,” said Musa Abu Marzouk, a member of the group’s political bureau.

“The assassination of leader Ismail Haniyeh was a cowardly act and will not pass in vain,” Marzouk said.

Amidst the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza, tragedy struck the family of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as three of his sons were martyred in the attacks on Wednesday, coinciding with Eidul Fitr.

According to reports from Hamas media, Ismail Haniyeh's sons - Hazem, Muhammad, and Amir - were traveling in their car when it was targeted by Israeli airstrikes in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza. Additionally, two grandsons were also martyred, while three others sustained injuries.

Abdul Salam Hania, Ismail Haniyeh's eldest son, confirmed the tragic news on social media, expressing gratitude for the martyrdom of his brothers. This incident is not the first time that Israel has targeted Haniyeh or his family, as his house was previously bombed and destroyed in November.

Confirming the heartbreaking loss, Ismail Haniyeh spoke to Al Jazeera TV, denouncing the Israeli targeting of his family members. He asserted Hamas's steadfastness in the face of aggression, vowing not to yield to pressure or concede on their demands.

Expressing profound grief, Haniyeh emphasized the value of his sons' sacrifice, noting that their blood, along with that of other martyrs, fuels the spirit of resistance and hope among the Palestinian people.

Critically condemning Israel's actions as a violation of international law, Haniyeh accused Israel of perpetuating a campaign of mass destruction and displacement in Gaza.

This tragic incident is not the first time that Israel has targeted Hamas leadership or their families. Ismail Haniyeh, who rose to prominence in the 1990s, has been a key figure in Hamas's leadership, assuming various roles including Prime Minister of Palestine in 2006.

Despite the loss suffered by his family, Ismail Haniyeh remains resolute in leading Hamas's political activities from outside Gaza, advocating for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people in the face of adversity.

Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent figure in Hamas, rose to prominence in the 1990s and played a significant role in the organization under the leadership of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

He later served as the Prime Minister of Palestine after Hamas' electoral victory in 2006. Currently, Haniyeh leads Hamas from outside Gaza, overseeing the organization's political activities.

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh during a high-profile visit to Tehran called on Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei  solidifying ties between the Palestinian militant group and the Islamic Republic.

During the huddle, Supreme Leader Khamenei reiterated Iran's unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause, pledging ongoing support for the people of Gaza and Palestine.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate in supporting the cause of Palestine and the oppressed and resilient people of Gaza," Khamenei added.

This pledge comes amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions following a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Haniyeh's visit marks his second trip to Iran since the eruption of conflict with Israel, further highlighting the strategic partnership between the two entities. The timing of the visit, coupled with Iran's vocal support for Hamas, signals Tehran's staunch backing for Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation.

In a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Haniyeh emphasized Hamas's transition into a new phase of confrontation with Israel, dubbing their attacks as the "Al-Aqsa Storm." This rhetoric underscores Hamas's determination to continue its resistance against Israeli aggression.

Acknowledging Iran's pivotal role in supporting Hamas, Haniyeh extended gratitude to Iran's leadership and its people for their steadfast support. He also alluded to previous financial assistance provided by Iran, indicating Tehran's significant contribution to Hamas's military capabilities.

Despite Hamas's rejection of a recent US-brokered compromise for a hostage release and ceasefire, Israel has condemned Hamas's refusal as evidence of its lack of commitment to peace negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced the recall of Israel's negotiating team from Qatar, signaling a breakdown in talks and a deepening of the conflict.

The senior political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, on Wednesday said that if Israel faced resistance from Pakistan, the perpetration of cruelty could cease.

He addressed the National Dialogue on 'The Sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Responsibility of the Muslim Ummah' virtually.

The event took place at the Jinnah Convention Centre, organized by Majlis Ittehad-e-Ummah Pakistan. Haniyeh sought Pakistan's support against Israeli occupation and highlighted the challenges faced by the Palestinian people.

During his address, Haniyeh emphasized that Israel's actions, including the arrest of approximately 16,000 Palestinians and desecration of holy sites, were in violation of international norms.

He expressed disappointment over the non-implementation of the Oslo Accords, citing an increase in the occupation of Palestinian territories. Haniyeh warned against the establishment of diplomatic relations between Islamic countries and Israel, asserting that it would severely damage the Palestinian cause.

Praising Pakistan as a brave nation, he suggested that if Israel faced resistance from Pakistan, the perpetration of cruelty could cease. Expressing hope in Pakistan's support, he referred to the country as a land of Mujahideen.

He highlighted the opposition to Israel among those who follow the Quran closely. Accusing America and other countries of supporting Israel, he voiced his aspiration for Israel to retreat, allowing the truth to prevail.

Haniyeh claimed that Israel had planned a sudden attack on Gaza with the intention of permanent destruction.

He justified attacks by Hamas Mujahideen as self-defence, stating they pre-empted Israel's plans for occupation. He acknowledged the high expectations Palestinians had from Pakistan and expressed confidence in the strength of the country.

He claimed that Hamas was currently countering Israel's most advanced weapons, asserting determination to succeed in thwarting Israel's intentions.

Despite casualties of over 20,000 Palestinians in the conflict, Haniyeh maintained hope in Pakistan's potential to force Israel to retreat.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called on Muslim countries to cease trade with Israel, including oil exports, in response to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza following deadly attacks by Hamas.

In the wake of Hamas gunmen's incursion into the Gaza Strip on October 7, a conflict ensued, resulting in the loss of over 1,400 lives, primarily civilians, as reported by Israeli officials.

The relentless bombing campaign has now claimed the lives of more than 8,500 individuals, with two-thirds of the casualties being women and children, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Speaking before a gathering of students in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei declared, "Islamic governments must insist on swiftly ending these crimes."

He further stated, "Muslim countries should not cooperate economically with the Zionist regime (Israel)," while urging for a complete block on oil and food exports to the nation.

Khamenei criticised Western governments, including Britain, France, and the United States, for their stance on the Palestinian issue.

He emphasised that the Muslim world should not overlook those exerting pressure on Gaza's population, attributing blame beyond the Zionist regime.

Iran's Defense Minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, issued a warning to "certain European countries that support Israel," cautioning them against angering the Muslim world through their actions.

While Iran provides financial and military support to Hamas, it denies direct involvement in the militant group's recent attacks on Israel. President Ebrahim Raisi asserted that Iran views it as its duty to support resistance groups but stressed that these groups act independently.

In response to Iran's alleged role in facilitating attacks on US forces in the Middle East, the White House announced a new round of sanctions targeting Hamas's funding networks and sources of support within Iran.

The situation in the Middle East remains tense as Iran's call for a trade halt with Israel reverberates across Muslim countries, potentially reshaping diplomatic and economic dynamics in the region.