Palestinians’ resistance to continue after Ismail Haniyeh martyrdom: Hamas

Hamas will not halt the resistance, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said in a statement on Wednesday, following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran early Wednesday morning.

“Hamas and the Palestinian people will not stop the resistance march,” he said, adding, “The resistance vows to respond to this aggression, and the Zionist entity deserves to pay a heavy price for this crime.”

Al-Hayya further said that the Ismail Haniyeh was not hiding in a secret location, implying that the enemy’s claims of an intelligence victory are baseless.

The statement asserted that the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh will not hinder the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, and the movement will continue to advance with its strategy.

He praised the sacrifice of Ismail Haniyeh, who gave his life for his faith and country, and acknowledged that his absence will be deeply felt by the nation.

He warned that the Zionist army and Israel will pay a heavy price for the crime of assassinating chief Ismail Haniyeh, and the movement will not be deterred by the martyrdom of its leaders.

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, the Palestinian resistance group said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the group said their leader was killed in “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran”.

The Hamas chief and one of his bodyguards were killed when the building they were staying in was attacked, reports quoting a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said.

The Revolutionary Guards said that early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck. As a result,  the Hamas chief and one of his body guard martyred. The incident is being investigated and findings will be announced soon.

Ismail Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.