Sources revealed to "Sky News Arabia" on Thursday that the head of Hamas's political bureau, Ismail Haniya, was killed "in an internal explosion, not by a missile." Haniya and his personal guard were killed inside his residence in Tehran in an attack attributed to Israel, although the latter has not yet claimed responsibility. Hamas had stated that Haniya was "killed by a targeted missile" that struck the guest house in northern Tehran where he was staying, a claim that "Sky News Arabia" sources denied.
The "New York Times" reported that Haniya was killed by "an explosive device that was smuggled into the guest house months ago." The American newspaper added that the explosive device that killed Haniya "was detonated remotely." It was also clarified by the "New York Times" that the guest house where Haniya was killed is managed and protected by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Haniya was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president, Masoud Bezhakian, on Tuesday. On Thursday, thousands gathered to mourn Haniya, carrying his photographs and Palestinian flags at the University of Tehran in the capital. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei conducted the funeral prayer for Haniya and his personal guard, who was killed alongside him in the attack.
