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Ismail Haniyeh's Killing in Iran Brings Israel Closer to Victory
(National Interest) Seth J. Frantzman - Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran on July 31, is presented as the political face of Hamas, as if he is different than the military part of Hamas that led the attack on Israel on Oct. 7. It's clear Haniyeh supported the attack. Shortly afterward, he gathered Hamas leaders in Doha for a video where the men prayed and celebrated, and later spoke in praise of the attack. Haniyeh was the one who galvanized support for Hamas after Oct. 7. It was Haniyeh who led Gaza down the road of becoming a springboard for ever-larger attacks on Israel. Hamas acquired longer-range rocket technology with Iran's backing, transforming its short-range Qasam rocket arsenal into a colossus of long-range rockets that could hit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Haniyeh also helped secure more funding from Qatar that enabled it to build hundreds of miles of tunnels and position its rockets to fire barrages of more than 100 rockets at a time.