The elimination of Isma’il Haniyeh: Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, was killed in an attack in Tehran; he was buried in Qatar. Senior Hamas figures said killing him would not alter the movement’s path. The Hamas leadership held consultations to choose his successor. “Sources” stated the movement would resume negotiations for a ceasefire after a new leader had been elected.
The southern arena: This past week IDF forces focused their activity on the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip and the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip. They attacked Hamas terrorist facilities operating in civilian compounds and exposed tunnels and weapons. There was an increase in rocket fire from the Gaza Strip; an Israeli civilian was injured.
The IDF confirmed that Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’ military wing, was killed in an airstrike in Khan Yunis; Hamas did not issue a confirmation; the IDF continued to target terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip, including those involved in smuggling and operatives who participated in the Hamas terrorist attack and massacre on October 7 2023.
A UN investigation determined that there was evidence indicating the possible involvement of nine UNRWA employees in the October 7, 2023 attack, and announced their dismissal.
Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week Palestinian terrorist operatives carried out three attacks, murdering two Israelis and injuring four others. A Palestinian terrorist stabbed two civilians to death and wounded two others in Holon, and a female Border Police fighter was stabbed at the Tunnel roadblock. An Israeli civilian was injured in a combined shooting and stabbing attack near Kiryat Arba. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, killing nine terrorist operatives in two airstrikes in Tulkarm, and at least five in two airstrikes in Jenin.
The Palestinian Authority: The Palestinian Authority (PA) representative to the UN called on the international community to stop the “terrible Israeli attacks” on the Palestinians and on “the entire Middle East.”
On August 2, 2024, the funeral of Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, was held in Qatar. He was killed on July 31, 2024, in an explosion in Tehran attributed to Israel.[2] The service was held at the Imam Muhammad bin Abd Mosque in Doha attended by senior Hamas figures, including Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Haya and Musa Abu Marzouq; Ziyad al-Nakhalah, secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ); Tamim bin Hamad, the emir of Qatar; Khan Fidan, the Turkish foreign minister; Mahmoud al-‘Aloul, Fatah deputy chairman; and Jibril al-Rajoub, secretary of Fatah’s Central Committee (Wafa and al-Jazeera, August 2, 2024).
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) denied reports that Haniyeh had been killed by an explosive device planted in his room at the Corps’ guest house in Tehran. They claimed the killing had been carried out by “the launch of a short-range ‘item’ with a warhead weighing about seven kilograms that caused a large explosion” (SNN agency, August 3, 2024).
Hamas spokesman Jihad Tahe claimed the shedding of Haniyeh’s blood “increases our determination to continue ‘resisting the occupation’,” adding that the funeral service reflected appreciation for Haniyeh’s role (Shehab Agency Telegram channel, August 2, 2024).
Khalil al-Haya, deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, said Haniyeh’s death would not cause Hamas to change course, and would revitalize the Arab nation. He claimed Haniyeh’s death had not left a vacuum and a new leader would soon be chosen (Hamas Telegram channel, August 4, 2024).
“Informed sources” said that Hamas was holding consultations to select Haniyeh’s successor, discussing the possible establishment of a leadership of three deputies of the political bureau’s head: one would perform “representative tasks,” another would choose a deputy for the head of the political bureau, and the third would be responsible for convening a meeting of the Shura Council to choose an interim successor for Haniyeh until elections could be held. According to the “sources,” the joint leadership would consist of Khaled Mashal, head of the “external” Hamas leadership, Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, and Zaher Jabarin, head of Hamas in Judea and Samaria (al-Sharq, August 4, 2024).
According to “sources,” Yahya al-Sinwar opposes appointing Khaled Mashal as interim political bureau head, preferring his deputy, Khalil al-Haya. According to the “sources,” Sinwar wants Haniyeh’s replacement to have good relations with Iran and Syria. It was also noted that the appointment would be for a few months until elections could be held (al-Arabiya, August 4, 2024).
The PLO’s Executive Committee erected a mourning tent for Isma’il Haniyeh, who at one point was PA prime minister,[3] at the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent in al-Bireh. Muhammad Mustafa, PA prime minister, members of the PLO’s Executive and Central Committees, the secretaries of the PLO factions, the governor of the Ramallah and al-Bireh District and various government ministers came to pay their respects (Wafa, August 4, 2024).
