NEW DELHI: Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran’s Tehran, the Arab militant group Hamas said in a speech on Wednesday, along with one of his guards.
Fear has soon fallen on Israel after the death of a high-profile person, although no party has claimed role. In response to Hamas ‘ October 7 assault on Israel, Israel has pledged to take revenge against Haniyeh and other Hamas officials. All you need to understand about Ismail Haniyeh is as follows.
First life and education
Haniyeh was the child of Arab families who fled Palestine during the Arab-Israeli War in 1948. His exposure to the sufferings of the Palestinians came from his early years in a refugee camp. This practice shaped his political opinions and dreams.
Haniyeh eventually enrolled at the Islamic University of Gaza and attended a school run by the UN. In 1987, he received a degree in Persian literature. During his college years, he became constantly involved in student elections.
He oversaw a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islamist student organization, which laid the groundwork for Hamas’s coming.
Fall in Hamas
Ismail Haniyeh’s social job began with the establishment of Hamas in 1987 during the First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation. His close partnership with Hamas’s religious head, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, helped him fall through the ranks. In addition to spending substantial time in prison in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, Haniyeh was detained by Israeli authorities numerous times for his engagement.
He and another Hamas officials were deported to Lebanon in 1992, but he and others went back to Gaza in 1993 as a result of the Oslo Accords. By 1997, he became the head of Yassin’s company, more solidifying his place within Hamas.
Haniyeh’s leadership during the Second Intifada ( 2000-2005 ) and his ability to maneuver the political landscape despite both internal and external pressures helped him gain notoriety within the organization. His fall was largely attributed to his ongoing relationship with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
Social leadership
Hamas won a lot in the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, making Ismail Haniyeh’s most significant political victory. Despite Hamas’s refusal to forsake violence and identify Israel, Haniyeh’s election as the Palestinian Authority’s prime minister resulted in global condemnation and a freeze on aid.
In June 2007, after a violent discord with the rival Fatah party, PA President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyeh, but he continued to regulate the Gaza Strip, where Hamas established a de facto management.
During his career, Haniyeh faced many difficulties such as financial sanctions, military confrontations with Israel, and inner political conflict. Despite these challenges, he maintained Hamas’s power over Gaza. In addition, Haniyeh participated in considerable negotiations, including one that resulted in the exchange of more than 1, 000 Israeli prisoners for Gilad Shalit.
Hamas Political Bureau’s Chairman
In 2017, Haniyeh was elected as chair of Hamas’s Political Bureau, succeeding Khaled Mashaal. His administration has had a significant impact on shaping Hamas ‘ policies and strategies, particularly those aimed at Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Under his leadership, Hassas has worked to maintain relevance in Israeli politics while also running difficult regional alliances with Turkey and Iran.
Haniyeh’s career has seen attempt at reconciliation with Fatah. An partnership aimed at unified Israeli government was reached in 2021. However, these attempts have typically faced significant challenges, underscoring the heavy divisions within Israeli politics.
