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【Text/Observer Network Yang Rong】

The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Political Bureau, Haniyeh, was assassinated in Iran. Hamas and Iran accused Israel of carrying out the assassination. According to IRNA on July 31, the Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the incident and accused the United States of being an "accomplice" of Israel in carrying out this "heinous terrorist act."

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that Haniyeh was "martyred" by an Israeli terrorist attack while attending the presidential inauguration ceremony in Iran as a guest. The statement said that the assassination of this "one of the pioneers of the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for their right to self-determination" was another example of Israeli terrorism and aggression; this terrorist act not only blatantly violated international law and the UN Charter, but also posed a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran stresses that the US government, as a supporter and accomplice of the Zionist regime, bears responsibility for the continued occupation of Palestinian land and the massacre of Palestinians, as well as for committing this heinous terrorist act," the statement added.

Iran's Foreign Ministry expressed "strong condemnation" of Israel's assassination of Haniyeh, warning that it would respond to this aggressive act that violates Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called on all countries and the international community to take necessary punitive measures against Israel and support the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and legitimate resistance to occupation.

Shortly before the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued the above statement, US Secretary of State Blinken, who was visiting Singapore, told the media that the United States was "unaware and not involved" in the attack in Haniya.

According to Singapore's Channel Asia News on July 31, when asked about the impact of Haniyeh's assassination, Blinken did not give a direct answer, but only said, "Over the years I have learned never to speculate on the impact that one thing may have on other things." "It's hard to guess. This is something we are not aware of and are not involved in."

Blinken then began to emphasize the importance of continuing to work on a ceasefire in Gaza and releasing detainees. He said: "It is critical to keep paying attention in the hope that things will move in a better direction of more lasting peace and security. And as far as I know, it is not wise to speculate on the impact of any one event."

On July 31, local time, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran in the early hours of the same day. It is reported that Haniyeh went to Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Pezhichyan on the afternoon of the 30th. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that one of Haniyeh's bodyguards was also killed.

Hamas Gaza Vice Chairman Khalil Haya held a press conference on the same day and said that the place where Haniyeh was attacked was not a secret location, so this was not an intelligence success for the enemy. He also said that Hamas will not stop resisting, and Haniyeh's successor will continue to follow the same path of resistance. Hamas' strategy is unwavering, "regardless of losing one or even ten leaders."

According to Saudi Arabian media Al Arabiya, citing Iranian media reports, the attack took place at around 2 a.m. on the 31st. Haniyeh was staying in a residence in Tehran that was specially set up for war veterans that day, and the missile directly hit Haniyeh. It was reported that "the missile that killed Haniyeh was launched from a foreign country", while Iranian media said: "More investigations are underway to determine the circumstances of this terrorist act, such as the location where the missile was launched."

So far, no party has claimed responsibility for the assassination, but Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of carrying out the assassination. Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei vowed to "severely punish" Israel, while Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that Israel would pay a heavy price for its "evil and cowardly" assassination of Haniyeh, and that "the heinous crimes of the Zionist regime...will undoubtedly be met with a severe and painful response from the powerful resistance front."

According to multiple media reports, the Israeli military has not yet responded to Haniyeh's assassination. According to Israeli media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office has asked cabinet members not to comment on the matter. The Washington Post and other media outlets in the United States analyzed that Israel usually did not make a public announcement after carrying out attacks or assassinations in regional countries, and Israel's silence after Haniyeh's assassination continued this practice.

Haniyeh was born in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip in 1963. He was the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. After Hamas won the legislative council election in 2006, Haniyeh became prime minister. In January 2007, after a conflict between Hamas and the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) led by President Abbas, Abbas announced the removal of Haniyeh from the post of prime minister. In June 2007, Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah by force.

According to previous reports, many of Haniyeh's family members had been killed in the bombing. The Hamas media office issued a statement on April 10 this year saying that Haniyeh's three sons and several grandchildren were killed in Israel's attack on the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. According to the Turkish official news agency, on April 15 local time, Haniyeh's granddaughter Malak Haniyeh was injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip and later died of her injuries.

According to Reuters, Haniyeh is a moderate and pragmatic figure in the Hamas leadership and has recently been involved in ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip. According to regional officials, Haniyeh played an important role in the Gaza Agreement negotiations, but the assassination has plunged the negotiations into crisis. Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed wrote on social media on July 31: "How can mediation succeed if one party assassinates the other party's negotiator?"

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