Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Wednesday confirmed the killing of three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a recent airstrike on the Gaza Strip.
Taking to X, IDF claimed that Haniyeh’s three sons – Amir, Hazem and Mohammad – were killed while they were “en route to carry out terror activity in the area of central Gaza”.
Ismail Haniyeh, who is currently living in exile in Qatar, said in a media interview that three of his four sons were martyred on the road to liberating Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The “criminal enemy” is driven by the spirit of revenge and murder and does not value any standards or laws, he said.
‘Targeting families’
The enemy believed that by targeting the families of leaders, it will push them to give up the demands of the people. Anyone who believed that targeting his sons would push Hamas to change its position is delusional, said Haniyeh.
The Israeli airstrike occurred near the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, where Haniyeh is originally from. According to the IDF, Amir was a squad commander in the Hamas military wing, while Hazem and Mohammad were lower-ranking operatives.
A television channel reported that the brothers were travelling with family members in a vehicle which was targeted by an Israeli drone. It said six people were killed in all, including a daughter of Hazem, and a son and daughter of Amir.
Low-key Eid
In low-key celebrations of Eid al-Fitr, Palestinians ended the holy fasting month of Ramadan and visited the graves of loved ones killed in the war.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has termed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza a ‘mistake’ and has urged him to provide aid to territory.
Israel and Hamas are engaged in talks meant to bring about a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 33,400 Palestinians have been killed in the war so far, which began in October 2023. Most of those dead are women and children.
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