Ismail Haniyeh: Three sons of Hamas political leader in Gaza Strip killed in Israeli airstrike as ceasefire talks stall

CNN
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On Wednesday, three sons of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. The assassination threatens to complicate ongoing negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and hostage agreement.

The Israeli military acknowledged carrying out the attack and described the men as “three Hamas military operatives who carried out terrorist activities in the central Gaza Strip.”

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA), those killed were Hamas military wing cell commander Amir Haniyeh, and Hamas military operatives Mohammad Haniyeh and Hazem Haniyeh.

CNN cannot independently verify the IDF’s claims.

Hamas political leader Haniyeh told Al Jazeera that the three people were killed when the car they were traveling in was bombed in al-Shati refugee camp northwest of Gaza City.

At least three of Haniya’s grandchildren were also killed, as was the driver, according to a journalist working for CNN in Gaza.

The Israeli military statement did not mention any other deaths in the attack.

The Hamas-run Government Media Office (GMO) said on Wednesday that the Haniya family was “socializing and visiting family on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr” before the vehicle crashed.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is one of the most important holidays in the Islamic calendar.

Haniya said in a statement that killing the leader’s sons will only make Hamas “more steadfast in its adherence to our principles and homeland.”

“Those who think that targeting my children during negotiations and before a deal is agreed will force them to withdraw Hamas’ demands are delusional,” Haniyeh added.

Haniya, who is based in Qatar, said Hamas was not afraid of Israel’s plans to invade Rafah, the southernmost part of the besieged enclave. It is estimated that around 1.5 million people who fled the fighting have taken refuge in shelled cities.

Hamas “will not surrender, […] don’t compromise […] No matter how great our sacrifices are,” Haniya added.

Israeli officials drew a distinction between the airstrike that killed Haniyeh’s sons and ongoing negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and hostage agreement.

“This operation has nothing to do with hostage release negotiations,” an Israeli official said. “Israel will continue to eliminate all terrorists and terrorist agents.”

Two other Israeli officials said neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were informed of the attack in advance.

International pressure to reach a ceasefire comes as devastation and suffering in the Gaza Strip worsens due to Israel’s aid blockade and widespread destruction, with half the population suffering from crippling levels of hunger. It’s increasing. More than 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

CIA Director Bill Burns has presented a new proposal to bridge the gap in ongoing negotiations to broker a ceasefire and an agreement to release Israeli hostages, according to people familiar with the talks.

The latest US offer, made in Cairo over the weekend, calls for Israel to release more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 40 Israeli hostages expected to be released in the first phase of a three-phase cease-fire agreement. It includes what you are asking for.

But Hamas said on Wednesday that it was currently unable to identify and track the 40 Israeli hostages needed for the first phase of the cease-fire deal, according to Israeli officials and people familiar with the talks. There are growing concerns that many hostages may be dead. is publicly known.

The majority of the approximately 100 surviving hostages are believed to be male Israeli Defense Forces soldiers or men of reserve age. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced on Wednesday that 33 of the 129 hostages currently being held from the October 7 attack have died.