Israel killed three of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s sons and three of his grandchildren in an airstrike in Gaza earlier today. The strike on Haniyeh’s sons Amir, Hazem, and Mohammad occurs during ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Sky News reported the attack could have been a negotiation tactic by Israel, stating on X, “The killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s sons could have been designed to reassert military pressure on Hamas to agree to a ceasefire.”
Haniyeh told Al Jazeera the strike would not change his position during talks, stating, “If they think that targeting my children at the peak of these talks before the movement’s response is submitted will cause Hamas to change its positions, they are delusional.”
Haniyeh stated that his three sons and three grandchildren were no more important than the other civilians dying in Gaza, stating, “The blood of my children is not more valuable than the blood of the children of the Palestinian people.… All the martyrs of Palestine are my children.” One of Haniyeh’s sons, Abdel-Salam, confirmed the deaths of his brothers, stating in a post on Facebook, “Thanks to God who honoured us by the martyrdom of my brothers, Hazem, Amir and Mohammad and their children.”
