Israeli government minister celebrates Hamas chief’s assassination

Israel’s Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu said the killing of the Hamas leader “makes the world a little better”.

“No mercy for these mortals,” Eliyahu wrote in a post on X. “The iron hand that will strike them, is the one that will bring peace and a little comfort and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who desire peace,” he said.

Israeli military declines to comment

The AFP news agency is reporting that the Israeli military has declined to comment on foreign media reports of Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination.

Israel took it too far by killing Haniyeh: Expert

Hassan Barari, a professor at Qatar University, says he was not surprised at the assassination of Israel Haniyeh.

“This is a declared policy of Israel. Netanyahu has been saying that he will target Hamas leaders inside or outside Gaza,” Barari said. “It was clear they would try to do this, but I did not expect it to happen in Tehran”, Barari said, adding that Israel took it too far by targeting Haniyeh in Iran.

“This is a message to Tehran itself and a message to everyone that Israel is determined to continue the war,” he said.

Haniyeh was one of the most prominent leaders of Hamas who rallied support for the Palestinian cause around the world. But he was not the first Hamas leader assassinated by Israel, Barari said.

“In 2004, they assassinated Shaikh Ahmad Yasin, the spiritual leader and founder of Hamas, a month after they assassinated Yasin’s successor Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi in Gaza. This never finished Hamas. It’s not like Israel is fighting a mafia, those people represent Palestinian resistance,” he said.

“Haniyeh joined Hamas from the very beginning since its establishment in 1987. He came from a refugee family which was displaced from what is now Israel. He joined the resistance movement and took part in the first Intifada and second Intifada. He was one of the most prominent people in Hamas.”

Hamas leaders assassinated by Israel in the past

Haniyeh’s assassination heightens regional tensions

The big question is, how will Iran respond?

Just a few months ago when Israel targeted the Iranian consulate in Syria, we saw Iran respond on April 14 with an attack on Israel with more than 300 drones and missiles. The United States and Israel knew the attack was coming but it was a major event in the region.

Now, given the fact that Haniyeh, an Iranian guest, was killed on Iranian soil, the big question is, what will Iran do? The repercussions are going to be big for the whole region. This could mean an Iranian attack on Israel. I cannot imagine what will happen next.

Hezbollah says Shukr’s fate is not yet known

The Lebanese armed group has issued a preliminary statement on the Israeli attack on Beirut. It said its commander Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsen, was present in the building at the time of the attack, but said his fate is not yet known.

The attack caused “significant destruction to several floors of the building”, it said.

“Since the incident, civil defence teams have been diligently working to remove the rubble, albeit slowly due to the condition of the destroyed floors. We are still awaiting the outcome of this operation concerning the fate of the esteemed leader and other citizens in this location,” it added.

Earlier, Israel claimed to have killed the Hezbollah commander, but sources from the Lebanese armed group claim he had survived.

_{A view shows a damaged building the day after an Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, on July 31}

Failure to protect Haniyeh may prompt Tehran to take action

Abas Aslani, a fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies in Tehran, spoke to Al Jazeera a little earlier about the security implications for Iran after the assassination in its capital city of Hamas’s political chief Haniyeh.

“What happened in Tehran was a bad thing for the Iranian security apparatus…and that’s why Iran will somehow feel it has to respond to this,” Aslani told Al Jazeera. “This is not good news for the security apparatus in Tehran,” Aslani said.

“That’s why I think a retaliation or a response from the Iranian side might be inevitable… But I’m not quite sure about the quality [of any response] yet,” he said. “I think it is yet to be determined,” he added.

“But this was, from a security perspective, very significant for Iran.”

Air attack targeted Haniyeh in early hours of morning: Reports

Iranian media are reporting that the Hamas leader was killed by an “airborne guided projectile” that hit the residence where he was staying in the north of the capital, Tehran. According to reports, the attack took place at about 2am local time (22:30 GMT on Tuesday) at a special residence for military veterans in the north of the city.

Prospects for a ceasefire more distant than ever

Haniyeh was a political figure, and a pragmatic one. He was known for maintaining very positive relations with Palestinian leaders from all factions – a reason why we have seen a rush of expression of solidarity.

One would expect that the hardliners in Hamas would now be in a better position to dictate its agenda. It would be very difficult to see that the talks that were trying to keep the ceasefire alive would have any traction at this point.

Maybe there wouldn’t be a dramatic change in the dynamics on the ground in Gaza when it comes to fighting, but certainly the prospects of a ceasefire urgently needed … are more distant than they have ever been.

Yemen’s Houthi say killing of Hamas’s Haniyeh a ‘terrorist crime’

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, said the assassination of the Hamas leader was a “heinous terrorist crime” and “a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values”.

Staunch supporters of the Palestinian cause, Houthi fighters in Yemen have launched attacks for months on shipping linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis say their campaign will end when Israel ends its war on Gaza.

Israel will ‘pay a great price’ for Haniyeh’s killing: Ex-IRGC chief

Mohsen Rezaei, member of the Expediency Council and former IRGC commander-in-chief, says Israel will “pay a great price” for Haniyeh’s assassination.

“I offer my condolences for the martyrdom of the free man, believer and proud leader of the Palestinian nation, Ismail Haniyeh…,” he said.

“This martyrdom is more proof of the despicableness of the criminal gang of Tel Aviv, from the killing of Palestinian women, children and elderly and trampling human rights to violating the legal boundaries of countries and international laws in the assassination of the popular leaders of nations.

“How stupid are they who think that this kind of despicable display of power can compensate for their weakness and helplessness in the heroic confrontation of the brave and undefeatable children of Palestine. Israel will pay a great price,” he said.

Hezbollah says Haniyeh’s killing to boost resolve of ‘resistance fighters’

Hezbollah says the killing of Haniyeh will embolden the “determination and stubbornness” of “resistance fighters” and will make “their resolve stronger” in fighting against Israel.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the Iran-backed armed group also sent its condolences to the family of the Hamas leader.

“We in Hezbollah share with our dear brothers in the Hamas movement all the feelings of pain over the loss of this great leader, the feelings of anger at the enemy’s crimes, the feelings of pride that the leaders in our movements are leading their people and their mujahideen to martyrdom,” read the message.

Deadly attacks in Tehran, Beirut put the lives of Jewish people at risk

Akiva Eldar, a political analyst based in Tel Aviv, says the killing of Haniyeh and the deadly attack in Beirut is going to put the lives of Jewish people at risk.

“It’s like opening a beehive without protective cloth that Israel believes it has from the international community,” he said. He cited the 1994 killing of dozens of Jews in a bombing in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires.

On the response from Israel, Eldar said that “there is more than one Israel, there is Netanyahu Israel and there is Israel that lost complete trust in Netanyahu”.

“The families of the captives and millions of Israelis who worry today and ask themselves how they are getting close to get back home or we can say goodbye to the deal with Hamas and prospect of ending this war,” he said.

“Is there any hope to put an end to the conflict or are we looking at escalation?”

Netanyahu’s reckoning gets postponed again as region plunges into chaos

Wadie Said, a professor of law at the University of Colorado School of Law, described the attacks on Hezbollah’s Shukr in Beirut and Hamas’s Haniyeh in Tehran as an “incredibly dangerous series of events”.

“And I have to question what the US knew, and how it would possibly process such an incredible escalation,” he told Al Jazeera.

The academic went on to suggest that Haniyeh’s assassination may benefit Netanyahu.

“It came amid a lot of coverage about how Israeli security and military figures were very frustrated because Netanyahu personally seemed to be holding up the talks for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange and ending the horrendous genocidal conflict in Gaza,” Said noted. “In addition, we just had the scenes from yesterday of Israelis rioting for their right to abuse and even rape Palestinian detainees, and then now, Netanyahu gets to have his day of political reckoning postponed as the region gets plunged into further chaos and more suffering.”

Iran’s president vows to make Israel ‘regret cowardly action’

Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a statement saying Tehran will defend its territorial integrity and dignity.

Here’s the full statement released by state media:

“Today, dear Iran is mourning its sharer of sorrows and joys, the constant and proud companion of the path of resistance, the brave leader of the Palestinian resistance, the martyr of al-Quds, Haj Ismail Haniyeh. Yesterday I raised his victorious hand and today I have to bury him on my shoulders.

Martyrdom is the art of men of God. The bond between the two proud nations of Iran and Palestine will be stronger than before, and the path of resistance and defense of the oppressed will be followed stronger than ever.

The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, honour, dignity and pride, and make the terrorist occupiers regret their cowardly action.”

_{President Masoud Pezeshkian, right, shakes hands with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh at the start of their meeting at the president’s office in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday, July 30}

China condemns Haniyeh’s assassination

Lin Jian, the spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, condemned the Hamas leader’s death and said Beijing is “deeply concerned that this incident may lead to further instability in the regional situation”.

Lin added that “Gaza should achieve a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire as soon as possible”.

China, which has historically been sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, hosted rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah in Beijing earlier this month. At that meeting, the two sides signed an agreement to form a “national unity government” in post-war Gaza.

Dozens of Haniyeh family members killed since October 7

Before his assassination, Haniyeh’s family members based in Gaza have been targeted by Israel.

In June, 10 members of his family were killed in an Israeli air strike in northern Gaza’s Shati refugee camp. Back then, the Hamas leader said that more than 60 of his family members had been killed since the start of the war on October 7.

In April, three of his sons – Hazem, Amir and Mohammad – were killed when the car they were driving in was bombed in Gaza’s Shati camp.

Four of Haniyeh’s grandchildren, three girls and a boy, were also killed in the attack, according to Hamas.

Haniyeh’s son pledges to keep fighting for freedom

Abdul Salam Haniyeh said his father’s killing will not end Palestinians’ resistance against Israel.

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

Malaysia condemns ‘all acts of violence’, calls for dialogue

Malaysia said it “unequivocally condemns all acts of violence, including targeted assassination” and urged “all peace-loving nations to join in denouncing such acts”.

Haniyeh’s assassination “underscores the urgent need for de-escalation and reinforces the necessity for all parties to engage in constructive dialogue and pursue peaceful resolutions,” the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Iran discussing details of Haniyeh assassination

Mojtaba Amani, Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, says Iran is still studying details related to the assassination of Haniyeh.

“On Iran’s position on the Haniyeh assassination – only a few hours have passed between now and the assassination. We need to follow up on many things – and we are not yet available to make a final decision,” Amani told reporters in Beirut.

“All political details, including yesterday’s attack in southern Beirut, are being discussed,” the diplomat said, referring to an Israeli strike in the suburbs of the Lebanese capital aimed at killing Hezbollah’s top commander Fuad Shukr.

General strike in occupied West Bank in the wake of Haniyeh’s assassination

_{Palestinians walk through a deserted commercial area in Nablus}

_{Palestinians pass by closed shops during a general strike in Tubas}

_{A man sits near closed stores in Hebron}

Iran force vows ‘harsh and painful response’ to Haniyeh assassination

Israel will face “a harsh and painful response” from Iran and its allies, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.

“This crime showed that the Zionist gang of criminals, murderers and terrorists, without any regard for international rules and regulations, does not shy away from committing any criminal action to cover up the shameful failures of nine months of war in Gaza, which led to the massacre of tens of thousands of Palestinian women, men and children,” said the statement.

The message comes soon after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei promised to retaliate against Israel.

Haniyeh body to be transferred to Qatar after funeral in Iran

Following the funeral ceremony in Tehran, the body of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh will be transferred tomorrow to Doha, the group said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

He will be buried in the Qatari capital on Friday, it added.

Netanyahu’s government wants a regional war: Palestinian legislator

Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian politician and the secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, says Haniyeh’s assassination marks a “grave development” that could spark a regional war.

“What you have in Israel now is a fascist government in every sense of the word, … and Israel is now trying to push the whole region into a global confrontation. What Netanyahu did is a clear indication that he wants a regional war and he wants to drag the United States into a confrontation with Iran, not only with Palestinians,” Barghouti said from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank

“What is most surprising is to hear a person like this secretary of defence from the United States, Lloyd Austin, saying that the United States will defend Israel. They’re allowing Israel to act as a criminal fascist, attacking and killing people in Lebanon, attacking and killing people in Tehran, attacking and killing Palestinians, committing terrible war crimes like genocide and collective punishment ,and yet they want to defend the criminal, the aggressor,” he said.

“That is really very serious, and it shows that the United States has no wisdom whatsoever in responding to what Netanyahu is doing.”

Intelligence used in assassination ‘suggests possible help of the US’

Al Jazeera’s Defence Editor Alex Gatopoulos says the intelligence used to locate and assassinate Haniyeh “suggests the possible help of the US”.

“Intelligence is key. Any weapon in the world is only as good as the intelligence that guides it. It can be as accurate as it likes,” Gatopoulos said. Technical intelligence would have supplied a location, “something they would have to act on quickly … [The US] obviously has the means and ability to collect this kind of intelligence,” he said.

The Mossad and Iranian dissidents are used for information on the ground, he added. “The means by which he died are almost irrelevant because it’s the intelligence that guided it.”

‘Can mediation succeed when one side assassinates negotiator?’: Qatar PM

The prime minister of Qatar, which has acted as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, has questioned the chances for negotiations to succeed following the assassination of Haniyeh.

“How can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on X. “Peace needs serious partners & a global stance against the disregard for human life,” he added.

‘Israel, Lebanon and Iran will have to bury more people’

Israeli analyst Akiva Eldar says the Haniyeh assassination will only lead to more bloodshed in the Middle East.

“It’s a vicious cycle. We have here three partners who are not looking at resolving the conflict. There is no responsible adult in Washington, or elsewhere, who is willing to put leverage on Israel and force us to go back to the negotiating table,” Eldar told Al Jazeera.

“The graveyards of the Middle East are full of senior Hamas, Hezbollah and Iranian leaders who couldn’t be replaced. But they have been replaced.”

Eldar said the willingness of the US to allow Israeli leaders such as Benjamin Netanyahu to conduct regional aggression is the main issue at hand.

“It puts us far away from any kind of diplomatic settlement. So as long as the United States is busy with its elections and domestic issues and is unwilling to use its leverage to force Netanyahu to start with a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal that will bring the captives back home, Israel, Lebanon and Iran will have to bury more people.”

Israel is not interested in peace

Just when you thought the situation in the Middle East couldn’t get any more incendiary, the assassination of Hamas’s political chief has propelled regional tensions to a whole new level of bad.

One Israeli official, Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu, apparently couldn’t contain his exuberance and took to X to proclaim: “This is the right way to clean the world of this filth. … Haniyeh’s death makes the world a little better.”

Israel is doing its best to provoke its enemies into committing bellicose acts that Israel itself can then use as an excuse to keep waging war.

Sri Lanka’s Wickremesinghe condemns killing of Hamas chief

Sri Lankan media reports say President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed his strong condemnation of Haniyeh’s killing.

Wickremesinghe reportedly made the comments during a meeting with former provincial council members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) & the United National Party (UNP) today.

According to his media division, Wickremesinghe said that unequivocally he would never condone such actions.

Israel aims to ‘involve the US’ in wider regional conflict

Abas Aslani, senior research fellow at the Tehran-based Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, has told Al Jazeera that Iran is expected to respond to Israel “in a very harsh manner”.

“We see that Prime Minister Netanyahu is doing everything he can to prolong the war and expand the conflict. Over the past nine months, Israel has been making efforts to extend and escalate the war to a broader regional scale. They also aim to involve the US in this conflict,” Aslani said, adding that any reaction from the West should be viewed in this context.

“This may also complicate Iran’s communications with Western countries. Ultimately, Netanyahu’s actions are intended to complicate the Democratic campaign [in the US] and bolster Donald Trump’s position by expanding the scope of the war,” he said.