Who was Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader assassinated in Iran?

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on July 31. Speculation suggests Israel might be responsible, following its vow to target Hamas leaders.

Ismail Haniyeh, chairman of Hamas's Political Bureau, became a prominent global figure despite multiple arrests and exile, rising to influence within Hamas from the late 1980s.

In 1997, Ismail Haniyeh led the office of Hamas's spiritual leader. In 2006, he became 'Prime Minister' after Hamas's election win, but was later ousted by Fatah in 2007.

In 2017, Ismail Haniyeh stepped down as Gaza's Hamas leader, becoming chairman of Hamas's Political Bureau, noted for moderation.

He was a key Hamas leader known for his diplomacy, experienced personal losses with the deaths of three sons and four grandchildren in an Israeli airstrike but remained pragmatic.

The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh represents a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, potentially reshaping Hamas's role and regional geopolitics.