Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.[Photo Courtesy; The New Arab]
The three sons of Hamas Political Bureau Chief, Ismail Haniyeh have been killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle they were in Northern Gaza.
Amir Haniyeh, Mohamed Haniyeh and Hassan Haniyeh were killed alongside 4 others as they were visiting relatives to celebrate the first day of Eid al-Fitr. A statement for Hamas has further indicated that his grandchildren; Mona, Amal, Khaled and Razan were among those killed in the incident.
The Israeli army has claimed responsibility for the killings saying that Haniyeh’s sons were Hamas operatives being the main reason why they attacked the vehicle they were traveling in.
The attack comes after President Biden criticized Israel Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu policy on Gaza , adding that the attack was a Mistake. However he has pledged that the Unites States will support Israel amid attack threats that Iran would retaliate after the killing of senior Iranians
However, Hamas leader Haniyeh has said that the killings of his sons will only harden Hamas’s resolve, adding that it wouldn’t affect the groups demands and ceasefire negotiations.
The Israeli government has indicated that currently about 260 soldiers have been killed fighting in Gaza since October 31st last year, being that on October 7 Hamas led a surprise armed incursion against Israel where more than 1200 Israelis and foreign nationals lost their lives.
According to Hamas, the attack was a reaction to Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory, blockade of the Gaza Strip, growth of illegal Israeli settlements and the increasing violence against Israeli settler populations as well as the recent escalations.