Haniyeh, Hamas Leader, Visits Iran

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, visited Tehran on Tuesday for discussions with Iranian officials, as reported by state media. This visit occurred just one day after the U.N. Security Council advocated for a ceasefire in the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

During his stay, Haniyeh planned to meet with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, along with other high-ranking officials, as per the IRNA news agency.

This trip marks Haniyeh’s second to Tehran following Hamas’ significant assault on Israel on October 7, which led to the death of approximately 1,160 individuals, predominantly civilians, based on counts from Israeli authorities compiled by AFP.

On his previous visit in early November, Haniyeh engaged with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and additional officials. While Iran praised the October 7 onslaught as a triumph, it refuted any direct involvement in it.

Following the attack, Iran-supported factions in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen escalated their assaults on Israeli and Western interests.

In retaliation, Israel’s military actions against Hamas have resulted in over 32,000 deaths in Gaza, with the majority being women and children, as stated by the health ministry of the Hamas-controlled region.

Haniyeh’s trip aligns with a recent U.N. Security Council resolution that called for an “immediate ceasefire” during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, aiming for a “lasting” peace. The resolution also demanded the release of hostages captured by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups during the October 7 incident.

About 250 hostages were taken, with Israel estimating that around 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead.

Nasser Kanani, a spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, regarded Monday’s resolution as a “positive but insufficient step” and advocated for “effective measures” to ensure the resolution’s implementation and a “complete and permanent cessation of attacks”.