Born In Refugee Camp, Rose To Become Hamas Leader: Life History Of Ismail Haniyeh

Hamas's political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Iran, according to a statement from the group. They claimed he was assassinated in a "treacherous Zionist raid" on his Tehran residence.

Early this morning, Ismail Haniyeh's home in Tehran was hit, leading to his death and that of one of his bodyguards. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they are investigating the cause and will provide details soon.

Haniyeh had been a target since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel, which killed 1,195 people and started the Israel-Hamas war. In June 2024, an Israeli airstrike killed 10 members of Haniyeh’s family.

Ismail Haniyeh was a Palestinian politician and Hamas leader. He served as the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority from 2006 to 2007 after winning the majority in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections.

Internal conflicts within the group led to the collapse of the government, and Hamas established its own administration in the Gaza Strip. After this, Haniyeh became the leader of the Gaza Strip's de facto government. In 2017, he succeeded Khaled Meshaal as the political chief of Hamas.

Haniyeh was born in a Gaza Strip refugee camp in 1962. He attended UNRWA schools and then studied Arabic literature at the Islamic University of Gaza in 1981. At the university, he led an Islamist student group linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

In 1988, Haniyeh helped start Hamas and became a close aide to its spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. By 1997, he had risen in the ranks of Hamas, becoming Yassin’s personal secretary and confidant. Reports say that in 2003, both Haniyeh and Yassin were targeted in a failed assassination attempt by Israel.

In 2006, Hamas won the majority in the Palestinian legislative elections, and Haniyeh became the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority.

The international community responded by freezing aid to Palestine, which put financial pressure on the government. In June 2007, President Mahmoud Abbas from the Fatah party removed Haniyeh and dissolved his government after months of tension. Haniyeh then led the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.

Also Read: Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh Killed In Iran, Israel Blamed