A breach of security
By Syed Ali
Hassan
Iran Daily’s correspondent
in Pakistan
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau and a key figure in ceasefire negotiations, in Tehran is a significant blow to global politics and diplomacy. It is widely believed that Israel, with the collaboration of Mossad, CIA, and MI6, executed this assassination. Planning for the assassination of Haniyeh and other key Hamas leaders has been ongoing for several years, and the Israeli regime’s targeted killings were a major reason behind Operation al-Aqsa Storm on October 7,
2023.
Attempts to target Hamas leadership were previously made in Turkey, but Ankara’s security system thwarted these efforts and arrested both local and foreign agents. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had warned Israel that any attempt to target Hamas leaders on Turkish soil would result in severe consequences for Israel. Despite such warnings, Mossad agents continued to plot assassinations in Turkey, which were again foiled by local authorities.
Israel has also targeted resistance movement members in Lebanon, Syria, and Qatar. On October 17, 2023, Israel’s special forces attacked the home of Haniyeh’s family in Gaza, killing 14 people, including his brother and nephews, while they were sleeping. On April 17, 2024, during Eid al-Fitr, Israeli troops conducted a covert operation in Gaza’s al-Shati camp, killing Haniyeh’s three sons, Hazem, Amir, and Muhammad, as well as his three granddaughters and one grandson.
In a Facebook post, Haniyeh’s eldest son confirmed the deaths of his brothers and expressed gratitude for their martyrdom. Hamas and Islamic Jihad displayed similar resilience following Haniyeh’s assassination, vowing that Israel’s cowardly attacks would only strengthen their resistance.
The killing of Haniyeh, considered as one of the best Palestinian diplomats, will impact ceasefire negotiations and escalate tensions, for which Israel will have to face the consequences. This assassination, alongside the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon, highlights Israel’s relentless targeting of resistance
leaders.
The Israeli media have reported on the success of the secret operation, but the incident exposes a significant breach of Tehran’s security. This breach poses a severe challenge to Iran’s security system, which must address the flaws in its air defense systems and counter the collaborative efforts of Israel, the US, and Europe.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei vowed to deliver a severe response to Israel for Haniyeh’s killing. He stated that Israel’s actions indicate its desire to expand the war, which could lead to devastating consequences for Tel Aviv. Ayatollah Khamenei affirmed that avenging Haniyeh’s blood is a duty as he was martyred on Iranian soil and that Iran will ensure retribution for this grievous
act.