Hamas leader’s sons killed in Israeli airstrike
Three sons of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
He described his sons as martyrs in a statement on Hamas’ Telegram account, but said their deaths would not affect ceasefire talks. Three of his grandchildren were also killed, the militant group said.
“All our people and the families of Gaza residents have paid a heavy price with the blood of their children, and I am one of them,” Haniyeh wrote from exile in Qatar. “The blood of my sons is not dearer than the blood of our people.”
Haniyeh, 62, who has 13 sons and daughters, added: “What the enemy failed to extract through killing, destruction and annihilation, he will not take in the negotiations.”
The Israeli military said the three men were operatives in the group’s military wing and were on their way to carry out a terrorist attack when they were targeted. They named them as Amir Haniyeh, a cell commander, and Mohammad and Hazem Haniyeh.
Sources in Gaza said the airstrike, at al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, also killed three children travelling in a car on their way to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Haniyeh told Al Jazeera that Israel has targeted members of his family before. “Nearly 60 members of my family have been martyred, including my grandchildren, my brother’s sons, my sister’s sons and my cousins.”
Israeli police arrested Haniyeh’s sister, Zebah Abdel Salem Haniyeh, 57, in southern Israel this week on suspicion of co-operating with Hamas in a raid amed Early Dawn.
The airstrike may increase tensions between Israel and the United States, which is pushing for a humanitarian truce after six months of heavy bombardment and worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. – The Times