The head of Hamas’s political leadership, Ismail Haniyeh, said an Israeli airstrike killed three of his sons on Wednesday, the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, an attack that could complicate a U.S.-led plan for a cease-fire in the six-month-old conflict in Gaza.
The Israeli military didn’t immediately comment on the statement.
Hamas said five people died in the strike, which the group said hit a car making social visits for Eid, the holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Haniyeh, in a separate statement, said some of his grandchildren also died.
The U.S. is pushing Israel and Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, to negotiate on the terms of a temporary cease-fire, but Hamas has largely rejected the U.S. plan, mediators said earlier Wednesday. Hamas said instead it would put forward its own road map for a permanent end to the war with Israel.
The killing of Haniyeh’s children on a Muslim holiday could lead to greater diplomatic pressure on Israel. But it is unclear whether the deaths will significantly change the dynamics of negotiations between Israel and Hamas because decision-making over the war has been more narrowly focused on the Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, and the group’s military wing.
@ThrilledSwingStateGreen2mos2MO
Imagine their outrage if Hamas had assassinated Yair and Avner Netanyahu.
@D3legateYakSocialist2mos2MO
So the children of Israeli leaders are also now fair game?
@ThrilledSwingStateGreen2mos2MO
They said this president long ago, but Hamas has Islamic morals that doesn’t allow killing non combatants.
@SnailEllieRepublican2mos2MO
According to Israeli intelligence, all 3 were involved with Hamas terror activities.
@FranchiseSophiaPatriot2mos2MO
Westerner critics of Israel aren't capable of understanding this. Including the Biden administration. When Gazans refuse evacuation orders it's because they want to become human shields and "sacrifices" for jihad. And since they are *volunteering* to be human shields they become active participants in the conflict. Think of it like a bodyguard. However the IDF still doesn't target them, and frankly has no way of knowing if civilians refused evacuation orders because they were threatened by Hamas.
But it's another layer to the complexity. Once you can understand… Read more
@CruelPolitic4lDemocrat2mos2MO
Agreed. Plus, Their benefactor aka Tehran wants them dead for their own ideology and objectives. Hxmas + Palestinians are just Disposable Sunni Pawns of Tehran long game.
@TaxationSeagullRepublican2mos2MO
Not entirely accurate. Hamas did a very public job of BLOCKING Gazans from evacuating. They are the chosen pawns of Jihad.
@ChowderEddieRepublican2mos2MO
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh learns that three of his sons were killed and responds: "I thank Allah for the honor that my children and grandchildren have been martyred."
And therein lies the problem. A father should aspire for his children to live in peace, not die for jihad.
@RatifiedTurtleRepublican2mos2MO
The response is actually finding out that he had 3 son’s to begin with
@GenerousJusticeDemocrat2mos2MO
He really is heartless he doesn’t care.
The murders of Ismail Haniyeh's children and grandchildren in targeted strikes in Gaza is part of a pattern of the IDF sabotaging negotiations.
In the last Gaza war, Israel struck apartment buildings housing 3 PIJ commanders who were to go to ceasefire talks *that morning*.
@PleasedTradeTariffGreen2mos2MO
They slaughtered Al- Deif's wife and children at end of 2014 massacre too, think after ceasefire called or on the eve of it...
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
Can the death of innocent people during a conflict ever be justified if it's part of a strategy to end that conflict sooner?
@9LGMRK22mos2MO
Yes, in any conflict eventually someone who is not involved will be hurt or killed. If the war was in the United States the same thing would happen regardless. It wouldn't matter where they were or who was leading. Less death is a possibility but no death stretches the lines.
@JackalBrandonPatriot2mos2MO
The three were operatives in the terror group. Amir Haniyeh was a squad commander in the Hamas military wing, while Hazem and Mohammad Haniyeh were lower-ranking operatives, also in the military wing.
The IDF says that the three men were en route to carry out terror activity in the area of central Gaza when they were struck.
@ReformVoleConstitution2mos2MO
Haniye is a coward terrorist hiding in Qatar that used their sons as human shields, great parenting right there and an example to the pro Hamas pro rape crowd.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
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