Hamas’s dreaded conspirator… What did Ismail Haniyeh do that Israel chased him to Iran and killed him?

The death of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has once again reminded us that Israel’s revenge is as cold-blooded as in films and popular web series. There is not the slightest difference in this. After the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, citing Hamas leaders, said that “They are living on borrowed time.”

Reports suggest that a poster hangs on the wall of the Israeli Defence Minister’s office in Tel Aviv showing faces of Hamas figures, including Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau. This is the leadership of the terror group Hamas has made Qatar its base in recent years.

When the news of Ismail Haniya’s death appeared in the media on Wednesday morning, the world was stunned. The terrorist organization Hamas claims that Israel carried out a ‘treacherous attack on Haniya’s residence in Tehran’. 62-year-old Haniya and one of his bodyguards died in this attack.

Let us tell you that Hamas Chief Haniyeh had come to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. He died in an attack in Tehran the very next day of the Iranian President’s swearing-in. Along with the swearing-in of the new President in Iran, the killing of a foreign guest on its soil has created turmoil in the politics and diplomacy of West Asia.

The life of Ismail Haniya, a Sunni Muslim who became the face of Hamas, is the story of a radical idea becoming a political ambition. Haniya’s parents were Palestinians and he was born during the Arab-Israeli war. He spent his childhood in a refugee camp. This child experienced the misery and suffering of the Palestinians.

This bitter experience shaped his political views. After completing his primary education, Haniya began studying Arabic literature at the Islamic University of Gaza. Here he became actively involved in student politics. Here Ismail Haniya led the Islamic Student Organization affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. This role shaped Haniya’s leadership in Hamas.

Ismail Haniyya’s political career began with the establishment of Hamas in 1987. At that time the first intifada against Israel had started in Palestine. Intifada means the rebellion of Palestinians against Israelis. His close relationship with Hamas’s religious leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin helped him rise in the organization. Haniyya was arrested several times by Israeli authorities. He spent a lot of time in jail in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Due to her ability to withstand internal and external pressure, political leadership skills, and hardline image, Haniya became the chosen face of Hamas during the Second Intifada (2000-2005).

In 2006, Haniyya proved her leadership when Hamas won the Palestinian elections under her leadership. After this victory, Haniyya became the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. But during this time she had to face opposition from her rival Fatah party. In 2007, the President of Palestine dismissed her government.

In 2017, Ismail Haniyeh became the political head of Hamas. He sharpened Hamas’ political goals, improved relations with Fatah and started raising the Palestinian issue more strongly.

Ismail Haniya had made Qatar his hideout for the last few days.

Why did Israel enter Tehran and attack?

When Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, the politics of West Asia changed forever. Not only were hundreds of Israelis killed in the Hamas attack, but Hamas also kidnapped 200 Israelis and took them to their hideout. For Israel, this attack was an attack on its very concept. Israel vowed to take revenge. This is the reason why pictures of Hamas leaders hang in the office of the Israeli Defense Minister.

In recent times, Ismail Haniyeh was the main negotiator on behalf of Hamas in talks with Israel. Despite using harsh language in public forums, Arab diplomats and officials considered him relatively pragmatic compared to more radical voices inside Gaza.

But Israel believed that Sunni Ismail Haniya was continuously targeting Israel in collaboration with Shia Iran. In the last few days, Haniya was continuously visiting Turkey and Iran so that a peace agreement could be made with Israel. According to experts, under this deal, Hamas would definitely release Israeli prisoners, but in return, Israel also had to release many Palestinians. Apart from this, increasing international aid for Gaza was also included.

However, Israel directly wanted the unconditional release of its prisoners. Accepting any condition of Hamas would harm Israel’s image as a strong state. Experts say that due to this the peace talks were not progressing. Pressure was also mounting on President Netanyahu to release the prisoners in Israel.

Let us tell you that Israel considers the entire Hamas leadership as terrorists, and has accused Haniyya and other Hamas leaders of continuing to support the Hamas terrorist organization. Israel clearly believed that Haniyya and other military commanders, including Hamas military chief Yahya Sinwar, had conspired against Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel was looking for an opportunity. Haniyya was continuously visiting many countries from Qatar. He went to Turkey, he visited Egypt but Israel wanted an opportunity when Haniyya was in a country which was already its enemy. It was more beneficial for Israel to attack the enemy country because in such a situation a new enemy would not have emerged for it. Whereas if Haniyya had targeted a neutral country, the situation could have worsened. Therefore, when Hamas chief Haniyya reached Iran for the swearing-in ceremony of the new President, it became easy for Iran to complete its revenge.