Tue Dec 24 01:01:56 UTC 2024: ## Israeli Minister Confirms Assassination of Hamas Leader Haniyeh in Iran
**TEL AVIV** – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly confirmed for the first time on Monday that Israel assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July. This admission dramatically escalates tensions between Israel and Iran, already heightened by the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
Katz, speaking at an event honoring defense ministry personnel, boasted of Israel’s actions against various regional groups, stating that Israel had “defeated Hamas,” “defeated Hezbollah,” and “blinded Iran’s defense systems.” He further claimed responsibility for the deaths of Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar (Haniyeh’s successor, killed in Gaza), and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (implied, not explicitly stated), threatening similar action against the Houthi movement in Yemen. Katz vowed to target Houthi leaders and infrastructure in response to their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Iranian government previously blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s July assassination in Tehran. Haniyeh, based in Qatar, was a key figure in Hamas’ international diplomacy and involved in ceasefire negotiations before his death. Sinwar’s death followed, further escalating the conflict. Katz’s remarks represent a significant escalation in the rhetoric surrounding the multifaceted regional conflicts.
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