Three sons of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh have been killed in an Israeli air strike within the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Palestinian Islamist group and Haniyeh’s household mentioned.
The Israeli navy confirmed finishing up the assault, describing the three sons as operatives within the Hamas armed wing.
Haniyeh, primarily based overseas in Qatar, has been the tough-talking face of Hamas’ worldwide diplomacy as warfare with Israel has raged on in Gaza, the place his household dwelling was destroyed in an Israeli air strike again in November.
The three sons – Hazem, Amir and Mohammad – have been killed after the automotive they have been driving in was bombed in Gaza’s Al-Shati camp, Hamas mentioned. Three of Haniyeh’s grandchildren have been additionally killed within the assault and a 3rd was wounded, Hamas media mentioned.
The Israeli navy assertion didn’t touch upon every other casualties within the airstrike.
“The blood of my sons isn’t dearer than the blood of our folks,” Haniyeh, 61, who has 13 little kids based on Hamas sources, advised pan-Arab Al Jazeera TV.
The three sons and three grandchildren have been making household visits in the course of the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr vacation in Shati, their dwelling refugee camp in Gaza Metropolis, based on family.
Hamas mentioned on Tuesday it was finding out an Israeli ceasefire proposal within the greater than six-month-old Gaza warfare however that it was “intransigent” and met not one of the Palestinian calls for.
Chinese language envoy meets Hamas political chief in a primary because the Israel-Gaza warfare
Chinese language envoy meets Hamas political chief in a primary because the Israel-Gaza warfare
“Our calls for are clear and particular and we won’t make concessions on them. The enemy will likely be delusional if it thinks that concentrating on my sons, on the climax of the negotiations and earlier than the motion sends its response, will push Hamas to alter its place,” Haniyeh mentioned.
Within the seventh month of a warfare during which Israel’s air and floor offensive has devastated Gaza, Hamas needs an finish to Israeli navy operations and a withdrawal from the enclave, and permission for displaced Palestinians to return dwelling.
Haniyeh’s eldest son confirmed in a Fb publish that his three brothers have been killed.
“Because of God who honoured us by the martyrdom of my brothers, Hazem, Amir and Mohammad and their kids,” Abdel-Salam Haniyeh wrote.
Appointed to the militant group’s prime job in 2017, Haniyeh has moved between Turkey and Qatar’s capital Doha, avoiding Israeli-imposed journey restrictions in blockaded Gaza and enabling him to behave as a negotiator within the newest ceasefire negotiations or talk with Hamas’ fundamental ally Iran.
Israel regards the whole Hamas management as terrorists, accusing Haniyeh and different leaders of continuous to “pull the strings of the Hamas terror organisation”.
However how a lot Haniyeh knew in regards to the October 7 cross-border assault on Israel by Gaza-based militants beforehand isn’t clear.
The assault plan, drawn up by the Hamas navy council in Gaza, was such a carefully guarded secret that some Hamas officers overseas appeared shocked by its timing and scale.
