Israel first admits killing former Hamas leader Haniyeh in Iran

(CLO) Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz officially admitted on December 24 that Israeli forces were behind the assassination of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July this year. This is the first time Israel has publicly confirmed responsibility for this incident.

Speaking at an event at the Ministry of Defense , Mr. Katz stressed that Israel will continue to act firmly against threats from the Houthi group in Yemen: “We will strike hard at the Houthi forces and eliminate their leadership – just as we did with Haniyeh, [Yahya] Sinwar and [Hassan] Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza and Lebanon, we will do the same in Hodeida and Sana’a.”

Late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Photo: Joe Catron

Mr. Katz declared that anyone who attacks Israel will be held accountable: “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will be met with our response. Their hands will be cut off, and the long arm of the IDF will pursue and punish them.”

Haniyeh, who was the political leader of Hamas and was seen as the leading figure in efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, was killed on July 31 at a guesthouse in Tehran. He was reportedly killed by an explosive device planted by Israeli forces.

A day earlier, Haniyeh had attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for Haniyeh's death, but this is the first time Israel has officially acknowledged its role.

On September 27, Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, in a bombing in Beirut. On October 16, Yahya Sinwar, Haniyeh’s successor in Gaza, was also killed. Israel accused Sinwar of planning the October 7, 2023, attack on Hamas that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces announced that it had killed a senior Hamas member, Tharewat al-Beik, the head of Hamas' internal security. He was killed along with another key member when a rocket hit their vehicle in Jabilia, northern Gaza. However, Hamas has not confirmed the information.

Meanwhile, three Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza by a large explosion at a Hamas weapons depot in Beit Hanoun. Investigators suspect the depot was remotely detonated by Hamas militants. According to Israeli military statistics, the number of soldiers killed in the fighting in Gaza and against Hezbollah has now reached 821.

Cao Phong (according to NYT, CBS, ABC)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/israel-lan-dau-thua-nhan-da-kiet-cuu-thu-linh-haniyeh-cua-hamas-o-iran-post327185.html