Israel Kills Sons and Grandchildren of Hamas Political Bureau Leader

Ismail Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, said the killing of his family won't impact ceasefire negotiations

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’s political bureau, said Israeli airstrikes killed three of his sons and four of his grandchildren in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

Israel confirmed targeting Haniyeh’s sons but said it did not have “information” about the killing of the grandchildren, which included three girls and one boy. They were killed in a strike on a car in the western part of the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.

The Israeli military claimed Haniyeh’s family was “en route to carry out terror activity,” but their relatives said the three sons and four grandchildren were traveling to meet family for Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.

Haniyeh said that the killing of his sons and grandchildren won’t impact ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. He said that a total of 60 of his relatives have been killed by Israel.

“All our people and all the families of Gaza residents have paid a heavy price with the blood of their children, and I am one of them,” Haniyeh said. “The occupation believes that by targeting the sons of leaders, it will break the resolve of our people … We say to the occupation that this blood will only make us more steadfast in our principles and attachment to our land.”

Hamas’s main demand for a hostage deal has been for a permanent ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, which Israel has repeatedly rejected.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.