Three Sons Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed By IDF Strike (photos)
Haniyeh claimed his family was targeted while driving in a car near the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City
The leader confirmed the killing of his three sons ands grandchildren would not affect Hamas’ demands in ceasefire negotiations with Israel.
Three sons and ‘several’ grandchildren of Hamas’ top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, relatives and official Hamas media said today.
Reports state that Hazem, Ameer, and Mohammed Haniyeh were killed alongside family members in a fatal strike near the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.
The Hamas political chief confirmed the deaths to Al Jazeera.
‘I am grateful to God for the honor he has given me in the deaths of three of my children and a few of my grandchildren,’ Haniyeh said, from Qatar.
‘My sons were awarded this honor. They remained with our Palestinian people in Gaza, did not leave and did not run,’ he added.
The terror leader hit out at Israel, stating they are ‘driven by the spirit of revenge’ as he claimed around 60 members of his family have been killed since the start of the war.
He claimed his family was targeted while driving in a car near the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.
The terror chief said: ‘Through the blood of the martyrs and the pain of the injured, we create hope, we create the future, we create independence and freedom for our people and our nation,’ the terror chief said.
The three brothers – Hazem, Ameer and Mohammed – were travelling with family members in a single vehicle targeted by an Israeli drone, Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV said.
It revealed a total of six people were killed, including a daughter of Hazem Haniyeh, and a son and daughter of Ameer.
Ismail Haniyeh, who now lives in exile in Qatar, is originally from Shati.
The deaths were confirmed by Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV station as well as Haniyeh family members on social media.
However, Haniyeh stated that the killing of his three sons ands grandchildren would not affect Hamas’ demands in ceasefire negotiations with Israel.
‘The enemy believes that by targeting the families of the leaders, it will push them to give up the demands of our people,’ he said.
‘Anyone who believes that targeting my sons will push Hamas to change its position is delusional.’
There was no immediate comments from the IDF.
It comes after the Hamas Chief said last Wednesday that his Palestinian Islamist movement at war with Israel was sticking to its conditions for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, including an Israeli military withdrawal.
Israeli officials visited Egypt at the start of last week in a bid to secure a deal, but a Palestinian official close to the mediation procedure said there had been no signs that a breakthrough was underway.
The IDF are yet to comment on the multiple deaths within the Haniyeh family
