Three sons of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh (Hazem, Amir, and Mohammad) and three of his grandchildren were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle in the Shati refugee camp west of Gaza. In his first comment after the incident, Haniyeh stated, "The enemy believes that by targeting the sons of leaders, it will break the spirit of our people. We tell the enemy that this blood will only strengthen our adherence to our principles and our attachment to our land." He added, "I thank God for this honor that He has bestowed upon us with the martyrdom of my three sons and some grandchildren. With these pains and blood, we create hopes, futures, and freedom for our people and our cause and for our nation." He continued, "My martyr sons have earned the honor of time, place, and ending. My sons remained with the people of Gaza and did not leave the territory. All the people of our nation and all families of the residents of Gaza have paid a heavy price with the blood of their sons, and I am one of them." He noted that "nearly 60 members of my family have risen as martyrs, like all the sons of the Palestinian people, and there is no distinction between them."
On November 21, 2023, Haniyeh's eldest grandson, Jamal Mohammed Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Palestinian media at the time reported that Haniyeh's eldest grandson was killed along with his daughter. The youngest granddaughter of Ismail Haniyeh, student Rania Hamam, was also killed on October 10, 2023, in an Israeli bombardment targeting her family's home in Gaza. This comes as the Israeli operation in Gaza continues for the 187th day, with the death toll from the bombardments in the enclave exceeding 33,000 casualties.
