MADRID- Hamas said its political leader Ismail Haniyah was killed in an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, describing it as a "severe escalation" that several foreign ministries said risks further regional hostilities.

Originating from a family of refugees expelled from historic Palestine during the Nakba in 1948, Ismail Haniyah grew up in the al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza.

He rose through the ranks of Hamas, initially serving as secretary to the group's founder, Ahmed Yassin, and later leading its political bureau.

In 2006, after Hamas won Palestine's latest legislative elections, Haniyeh, as the movement's top candidate, was appointed to form a new government, which he led for a year.

His prominent leadership positions within Hamas made him a target for Israel, which arrested, expelled him from Gaza, and repeatedly threatened his life.

Haniyah survived several assassinations attempts by Israel, including one in 2003 targeting Ahmed Yassin, which resulted in injuries to his arm.

In 2018, the United States designated him as a specially designated global terrorist, a move Hamas dismissed as “ridiculous.”

During the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli forces targeted members of Haniyah's family in the al-Shati refugee camp, resulting in the deaths of at least three of his sons, two grandchildren, his sister, and around ten other relatives.

It was the second high-profile assassination to be attributed to Israel in a matter of hours, after a strike in Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander, heightening fears that the region was sliding towards a full-blown war.

This incident follows nearly ten months into the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Haniyah had arrived in Tehran just the previous Tuesday to participate in the inauguration of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

In response, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei issued a statement condemning the attack, saying: "The Zionist, criminal, and terrorist regime has murdered our esteemed guest on our own soil, causing immense sorrow and setting the stage for severe retaliation."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked, "The bond between the proud nations of Iran and Palestine will grow stronger, and the resistance and defense of the oppressed will continue with even greater determination." He also asserted, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will uphold its territorial integrity, honor, and dignity, ensuring that the terrorist aggressors will regret their actions. "

Haniyah's assassination occurred just one day after Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, was killed in Beirut. This series of events supports the theory that Israel is pursuing a strategy aimed at provoking a regional confrontation. The intent appears to be twofold: to shift focus from its actions in Gaza and to pressure the United States into a more pro-Israel stance. The U.S. involvement, aligning with Israel's regional strategy, contributes to the escalating tensions. Together, the U.S. and Israel are pushing the region towards a potentially devastating conflict.

Iran is expected to collaborate with other members of the Axis of Resistance to formulate a unified response. Nevertheless, similar to Operation "True Promise," it seems that Iran will primarily handle the strategic and military aspects of the reaction.

The killing of Hamas's political leader introduces new complexities to the situation. This attack aims to challenge Iran's assertion of having restored deterrence against Israel following the consulate bombing in Damascus. Furthermore, it conveys to the Axis of Resistance allies that their safety is not guaranteed, even within Tehran. Thus, Iran's response is essential not only to reestablish deterrence but also to bolster regional security and end the Israeli sense of impunity. 

The assassination also underscores that Israel has never genuinely pursued a ceasefire or shown concern for the safety of Israelis held by Hamas. 

The fact that the assassination took place on Iranian soil carries significant implications for Iran’s image. As Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized, the Iranian response will be more pronounced, stating, “We view avenging Haniyah’s blood shed on the Islamic Republic’s soil as our duty.”

Netanyahu's actions appear to have sparked a chain reaction that could lead to a major regional conflict, potentially involving the United States—a goal Israel has pursued since the start of the Gaza conflict. The Zionist strategy behind this "regional chaos" is to create a new equilibrium in the region that reinforces Israel's dominance and increases its flexibility. This is another reason why Iran must take action to avoid such an outcome.

A failure to appropriately respond to this aggressive move by Israel will also lead to a shift in the stance and perceptions of other regional forces, including the Persian Gulf sheikhs, towards the Axis of Resistance and its effectiveness. It will also significantly worsen the situation for Hamas in Gaza, ultimately resulting in a change in the dynamics of the conflict.