Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, was killed early on Wednesday in Iran. Hamas has denounced the incident as a "severe escalation" and feels that it will not accomplish its intended objectives. Haniyeh had just left a ceremony to introduce Iran's new president when he was assassinated. The White House and Israeli authorities have not yet responded, but Iran's Revolutionary Guards have verified his death and are looking into the situation.
Hamas's international diplomacy was greatly aided by Haniyeh, who was mostly located in Qatar and had been actively involved in discussions and peace talks. Being less than 24 hours after Israel claimed responsibility for the death of a Hezbollah commander in the Golan Heights, the assassination is considered a major blow to any potential peace accord.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas leader, called the assassination a deliberate attempt to weaken Hamas's authority, but he also stated that the group remains committed and confident in its victory. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has become more intense due to the attack on Haniyeh, and it may get considerably worse.
Haniyeh, who was appointed as the leader of Hamas in 2017, was able to go between Qatar and Turkey and conduct conversations and diplomacy while avoiding the travel restrictions placed on Gaza. In order to manage Hamas' international connections and negotiate ceasefires during the continuous fighting, his role was essential.
