Hamas announced today, Wednesday, the assassination of its political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh.
This was in Tehran, after attending the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president, Masoud Bazeshkian.
Who is Ismail Haniyeh?
Ismail Haniyeh was born in 1962 in the Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.
His parents fled their home near what is now the Israeli town of Ashkelon during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Ismail Haniyeh studied Arabic literature at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he became involved in the Islamic movement.
He graduated in 1987, coinciding with the outbreak of the popular uprising against the Israeli occupation in Gaza.
Ismail Haniyeh was arrested by Israeli authorities in 1989 for participating in protests and imprisoned for three years.
After his release in 1992, he was exiled to Marj al-Zohour on the Lebanese-Palestinian border with several Hamas leaders, where he spent a year in exile.
Then he returned to Gaza in December 1993 and was appointed dean of the Islamic University.
Career
- In 1997, he was appointed head of the office of the movement’s leader, Ahmed Yassin, after his release from prison.
- He sustained minor injuries in an Israeli airstrike in September 2003.
- In December 2005, he led the Change and Reform list, which won the majority in the second Palestinian legislative elections in 2006.
- In February 2006, Hamas nominated him for the position of Prime Minister of Palestine, and he was appointed on the 20th of that month.
- In 2007, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed him from the position of Prime Minister.
- Elected as the head of Hamas’ political bureau in May 2017, succeeding Khaled Meshaal.
- Lives in Qatar and has not visited the Gaza Strip for a long time.
- Ismail Haniyeh last appearance was on Tuesday, where he met with Iranian President Masoud Bazeshkian in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for the first time after the latter’s inauguration.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and the Republic of Chile, which was signed today by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” and His Excellency Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic… pic.twitter.com/IKvubqYusC
— UAE Voice (@uae_voiceeng) July 30, 2024
Family
- Married to his cousin Amal Haniyeh.
- They have 13 children, eight sons and five daughters.
- Ismail Haniyeh daughters: Sana (born 1986), Buthaina (born 1987), Khawla (born 1992), Latifa (born 1998), Sara (born 2004).
- Ismail Haniyeh sons: Abdul Salam (born 1981), Hammam (born 1983), Wissam (born 1984), Muath (born 1985), Aed (born 1994), Hazem (born 1994, killed in an Israeli airstrike), Amir (born 1995, killed in an Israeli airstrike), Muhammad (born 1996, killed in an Israeli airstrike).
