In the Shati refugee camp area of the Gaza Strip, a tragic event occurred in which three children of Ismail Haniyah, the leader of the Islamist group Hamas, were killed in an Israeli air attack. Haniyah, who was born in Shati 61 years ago and had been living in Qatar for years, learned of the devastating news about the death of his three children and three grandchildren. The loss deeply affected him and he reacted by expressing determination to continue the fight for freedom and independence.
Haniyah is one of many Palestinians who have lost loved ones due to Israeli aggression. He mentioned that there have been approximately 60 martyrs in his family alone, highlighting the suffering inflicted on Palestinian people in Gaza. Despite this tragedy, Haniyah remains resolute in his commitment to Hamas’s cause at a regional level. As the leader of Hamas abroad since 2017, he plays a crucial role in decision-making for the group, while Yahia Sinwar has final say on matters related to Gaza Strip negotiations.
Israel has denied any involvement in Haniyah’s children’s deaths, but Hamas accuses Israel of seeking revenge and disregarding international law. The offensive launched by Israel after a jihadist attack on October 7 has resulted in ongoing airstrikes against Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip despite most soldiers being withdrawn from the area.
Haniyah emphasized that Hamas’s demands for a ceasefire would not be impacted by his children’s deaths. He believes that their sacrifices will ultimately lead to freedom and independence for Palestine.
