For Gaza Palestinians, Haniyeh’s death makes him 'just like the rest of us'

Rasha Abou Jalal

Aug 3, 2024

Iranians attend a funeral ceremony in Tehran on Aug. 1, 2024, for Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated the day before in the Iranian capital. — Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

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DEIR EL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday in Tehran elicited mixed reactions among Palestinians in Gaza, some feeling more supportive of movement and others hoping it will hasten an end to the war with Israel.

Haniyeh was killed in the Iranian capital while there to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. He died in an apparent attack while at a guesthouse run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Although no party has claimed responsibility for the assassination, fingers immediately began pointing at Israel, which has killed a string of Hamas political and military leaders during the war ongoing in Gaza since Oct. 7, including Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy political head of Hamas, killed by a targeted strike in Beirut last January.

Haniyeh's death sent a shockwave through Gaza, as it did elsewhere.