On Wednesday, three sons of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed by an Israeli airstrike. The three were killed when their car was bombed in Gaza’s al-Shati camp. According to reports, at least three of Haniyeh’s grandchildren were also killed in the strike. Upon hearing of their death, Haniyeh, who resides in Qatar, said, “I thank God for this honor that he bestow upon us the martyrdom of my three sons and some grandchildren.”
The targeted killing of high-level Hamas operatives is an extremely complex operation, and a tactic that Israeli forces specialize in. It requires accurate intelligence and quick action using precision weapons — often fired from drones — that are able to hit a target without killing innocent bystanders.
The killing of Haniyeh’s sons was reportedly carried out without first informing the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu or the defense minister Yoav Gallant. All three sons held high level positions in Hamas and were believed to have been involved in terrorist activities. It is therefore likely that the men were already on Israel’s approved “target bank” and that the strike had to happen quickly.
Such high-level targets are extremely difficult to locate, and they are valuable in Israel’s fight against Hamas. Israeli forces had to act as soon as the intelligence came in and they were able to verify the identity of the three. Apart for its tactical advantages, this killing also sends a clear message to Hamas’s leaders: that Israel will pursue them relentlessly and that no Hamas member is immune.
The killing of Haniyeh’s sons comes as negotiations between Hamas and Israel over a ceasefire deal and the release of Israeli hostages continue. Haniyeh has taken a particularly tough stand, demanding that Israel withdraw all forces from Gaza and accept a permanent truce in return for a deal. These terms would allow Hamas, whose leaders vowed to carry out more attacks on Israel similar to the atrocities committed on October 7, to rebuild its power and keep control of Gaza.
There are hopes among family members of the Israeli hostages that the killing of Haniyeh’s sons will not cause any setbacks in the negotiations. But as long as Hamas remains defiant in the face of American pressure, Israel will continue to pursue a strategy of degrading Hamas’s military abilities and ending their rule over Gaza.
Israel believes that persistent military pressure is the only way to get Hamas to soften its demands and agree to a ceasefire deal, and so it pushes on. Most of its ground forces have already withdrawn from Gaza. But today, based on new intelligence, IDF forces led by the 162nd armored division have started a large scale operation in the center of the Strip in an effort to destroy terrorist infrastructure.
It remains to be seen whether Israeli forces will move into Rafah — the last of Hamas’s large stronghold. The pending operation in the city, which is currently hosting roughly 1.3 million Palestinian refugees, has come under intense international criticism. Even the American administration — Israel’s closest ally — voiced concern about the mission and warned Israel that a full-scale operation could have “consequences” and may affect American support
Earlier this week, Netanyahu announced that a date has been set for the military operation in Rafah. This was quickly rebuffed by defence minister Gallant who claimed that no such date exists. As Netanyahu tries to balance the integrity of his far-right coalition, which could collapse if an operation in Rafah is abandoned, alongside American warnings and the strategic importance of Rafah in the fight against Hamas, it’s unclear whether an operation will take place, or what form it could take. Currently, Israeli forces operate in the city in a very limited way, for example carrying out targeted killings.
The killing of Haniyeh’s sons represents Israel’s continued commitment to the goals of the war. It could either undermine efforts to bring back the Israeli hostages, who have already spent six excruciating months in captivity, or it could be used to place enough pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal. However, Haniyeh’s response to the killing suggests that an extremist organzation such as Hamas that glorifies death will not be easily persuaded to reach a deal — whatever the price.
This article was originally published on The Spectator’s UK website.
