Confirmation of Ismail Haniyeh's Death by Missile; Senior Hamas Official: Glasses Were Shattered and Walls Collapsed Before Impact

A senior member of the Hamas militant group stated in a press conference regarding the death of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran that it has been confirmed that this incident was 'by missile' and that 'before the missile hit, the glasses were shattered and the walls collapsed.' Khalil al-Hayya on Wednesday, August 1, discussed the death of the Hamas political bureau chief who was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Masoud Pezeshkian, stating, 'The missile struck the room where Ismail Haniyeh was present.' He mentioned that 'various institutions' of the Islamic Republic are conducting 'investigations' into Haniyeh's death, citing what he called 'observations from those who witnessed the incident closely,' stating that 'before the missile hit, the glasses were shattered and the walls collapsed.' Al-Hayya also noted that Islamic Republic officials and 'technical committees investigating the matter should comment on the details of this incident after completing their investigations.' This senior Hamas official, a group supported by the Islamic Republic, also claimed that 'our path is not one of surrender,' asserting that 'a few days ago we had a document and an agreement was close to being reached, but Netanyahu backed out,' and that Israel's actions 'in southern Lebanon and in Iran' 'ended everything.' The claim from this Hamas official comes amid rising tensions since Saturday, July 29, following a rocket attack by Hezbollah, the main proxy arm of the Islamic Republic, on a football field in the Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers aged 10 to 20 and injured over 30 others. The claim from this senior Hamas official is made in a context where this militant group is recognized as a disruptor of negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that any ceasefire agreement in Gaza must allow for the resumption of hostilities until Israel's declared military objectives are achieved. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced early Wednesday that Ismail Haniyeh, along with one of his bodyguards, was struck and killed at his residence in Tehran, but did not provide further details on how this incident occurred. Hours later, the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry claimed that the United States bears responsibility for Haniyeh's death in Tehran due to its support for Israel. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in his first comments regarding Haniyeh's death in Tehran promised 'severe blood vengeance.' Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States had 'no knowledge of and was not involved in' the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin refrained from commenting on Haniyeh's death in Tehran but emphasized that 'war is not inevitable,' but if Israel is attacked, the U.S. will certainly assist in its defense. The U.S. supported Israel's approach in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Reactions to Haniyeh's death ranged from 'quickly frying meatballs in the middle of Tehran' to jabs at Pezeshkian's 'good fortune.' The director of policy for the 'United Against a Nuclear Iran' stated that Tehran does not want to engage in direct war with Israel and the U.S. Norman Roule commented that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was responsible for Haniyeh's protection, was humiliated. Reuters reported that Haniyeh's death is the latest development in the tumultuous Middle East. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio reacted to Haniyeh's death, stating that the Islamic Republic has no right to complain. Germany's reaction to Haniyeh's death emphasized the need to prevent escalation in the region, labeling Hamas as a terrorist organization.