How Iran sheltered Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh

On Wednesday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran allegedly by an Israeli air strike.

The development has only further heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas and escalates the chances of a regional war breaking out.

Hamas said in a statement that Haniyeh was killed “in a Zionist airstrike on his residence in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of Iran’s new president.”

“Hamas declares to the great Palestinian people and the people of the Arab and Islamic nations and all the free people of the world, brother leader Ismail Haniyeh a martyr,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader of Iran – an ally of Hamas – has vowed revenge on Israel.

“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our home and made us sad, but it also prepared a harsh punishment for itself,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.

But what was Haniyeh doing in Iran? How did Haniyeh have a residence there?

Let’s take a closer look:

What was he doing in Iran?

First, let’s briefly look at Haniyeh.

Haniyeh has been Hamas’ political chief since 2017.

However, he had been living in exile since 2019 when he left the Gaza Strip.

According to India Today, Haniyeh had taken up residence in Doha.

This makes sense as Qatar is known to fund Hamas as well as shelter its political leaders.

Hamas leaders have been residing in hotels and villas in Qatar for years. The group’s three top leaders alone are worth a staggering total of $11 billion and enjoy a life of luxury in the sanctuary of Qatar, a 2023 report revealed.

The political wing of Hamas in 2012 set up its headquarters in Qatar – reportedly in coordination with the US government following a request to establish a communication channel.

Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the swearing-in of President Masoud Pezeshkia.

Photos from the event Tuesday show Haniyeh smiling and clapping, seated alongside leaders from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group and Hezbollah.

He earlier met with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Little is known about the assassination itself with Hamas saying that Haniyeh was killed at his residence in Iran.

According to BBC, Haniyeh was in a building for war veterans in Tehran.

The strike occurred around 2 am.

Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed in a rocket attack, as per the outlet.

How did he have a residence in Iran?

Iran is Israel’s bitter regional rival.

The country which has vowed to ‘wipe ba off the map’ has long-since backed the Palestinian terror group.

The country has spent decades funding, arming, training and offering intelligence to Hamas.

Indeed, the Wall Street Journal reported that Iran even helped Hamas plan the attack on Israel – a charge Tehran has denied.

Haniyeh has made multiple visits to Tehran over the years.

Little surprise then that Haniyeh keeps a residence in Iran.

It made sense for Israel to target Haniyeh in Iran as the country had reportedly promised Qatar, where the Hamas leader was living, that it would not assassinate leaders of Hamas on its soil.

This assurance was a pre-condition Qatar insisted on before taking on the role of mediator between Hamas and Israel, according to La Figaro.

BBC editor Jeremy Brown noted that it was ‘politically impossible’ for Israel to kill Haniyeh in Qatar.

“Assuming it was Israel who killed him, and I can’t say who else it might be - and they haven’t commented as yet - why are they doing it now when they must have had some chances in the past?” Brown wrote.

Brown added that Haniyeh’s death sends a clear message to Hamas – no one is safe.

“Haniyeh was involved in the ceasefire and hostage release talks, so this is not going to make those any easier,” Brown added.

Indeed, there is already concern that the development could impact the peace process in Gaza.

Qatar condemned Haniyeh’s assassination in the Iranian capital Tehran, saying it was a dangerous escalation.

“Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani wrote on X.

“Peace needs serious partners & a global stance against the disregard for human life.”

What do experts say?

That the development is a huge prestige blow to Iran.

“A strike within Iran to kill the top political leader of Hamas is quite an achievement, it will be a big shock not just for Hamas but also to its main sponsor, Iran,” Bloomberg senior editor Bobby Ghosh told CNN.

“It is a tremendous embarrassment for Iran for Haniyeh to be killed on Iranian soil,” he added. “Israel has the capacity to strike within Iran. But usually it has struck lesser targets. This is one of the most senior person to be taken out within Iran in this way. This is a big hit to Hamas.”

Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard issued a second statement regarding the Haniyeh’s assassination on its website, saying Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed at their residence in the early hours of Wednesday in Tehran.

The statement said, “Undoubtedly, this crime of the Zionist regime will face a harsh and painful response from the powerful and huge resistance front, especially Islamic Iran.”

The Iranian government has declared three days of public mourning over the assassination of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, state-run IRNA news agency reported.

With inputs from agencies