TEL AVIV, Israel. Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday targeted and killed three sons of Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in the Gaza Strip, further complicating cease-fire negotiations between Israel and the militant group. Hamas reported that four of Haniyeh’s grandchildren were also among the casualties.
The loss of Haniyeh’s sons, Hazem, Amir, and Mohammed, represents a significant blow to Hamas, with Israel alleging they were active members of the organization. Haniyeh condemned the strike, accusing Israel of seeking revenge and resorting to murder.
The incident poses a challenge to ongoing cease-fire talks, which, despite recent momentum, still face substantial hurdles. International pressure, notably from the United States, mounts on Israel to reassess its approach to the conflict, particularly concerning humanitarian aid for Gaza’s population.
Haniyeh, undeterred by the attack on his family, reaffirmed Hamas’ resilience in the face of such tactics. He denounced the belief that targeting his sons would force Hamas to capitulate, asserting that such notions were misguided.
Al-Aqsa TV aired footage showing Haniyeh receiving the devastating news while visiting wounded Palestinians in Qatar, where he resides in exile. The loss of his family members left him visibly shaken as he quietly left the room.
According to Hamas, the strike occurred in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, the ancestral home of Ismail Haniyeh. The group confirmed the deaths of three of Haniyeh’s granddaughters and one grandson in the attack.
Israeli military sources identified Mohammed and Hazem as Hamas military operatives, with Amir serving as a cell commander. However, they offered no comment regarding the grandchildren’s deaths.
In separate reports from Israeli media suggest that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials were not consulted before the strike. This revelation raises questions about the decision-making process surrounding such sensitive operations.
The killing of Haniyeh’s relatives injects further complexity into the negotiation process, which aims to halt hostilities in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Concerns linger over the impact of the airstrike on the negotiation dynamics, with hopes that Hamas will not escalate its demands in response to the tragedy. The incident underscores the ongoing bloodshed in a conflict with no clear resolution in sight.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
