Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader.
Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has vowed that the terrorist organization would not surrender even after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed his three sons and four grandchildren.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) confirmed it carried out the attack on Wednesday, saying the men conducted militant activity in central Gaza, without elaborating.
Hamas said four of the leader’s grandchildren were also killed.
Haniyeh, 62, said the killings would not pressure Hamas into softening its positions amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel.
In a statement he said killing the sons of leaders would only make Hamas “more steadfast in our principles and adherence to our land.”
“Whoever thinks that by targeting my kids during the negotiation talks and before a deal is agreed upon that it will force Hamas to back down on its demands, is delusional,” Haniyeh added.
Hamas would “not surrender, and […] not compromise […] no matter how great our sacrifices are,” Haniyeh added.
It comes after the latest U.S ceasefire proposal was made in Cairo over the weekend includes pushing Israel to release a higher number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the expected 40 Israeli hostages who would be freed during the first phase of a three-stage plan.
But, Hamas indicated on Wednesday that it was currently unable to identify and track down 40 Israeli hostages needed for the first phase the deal.
The majority of the almost 100 hostages who remain alive are believed to be male IDF soldiers or men of military reserve age. The Israeli prime minister’s office said that of the 129 hostages from the October 7 attack currently held, 33 are dead.
Israeli bombardments and ground offensives have killed at least 33,360 Palestinians and wounded 74,993, Gaza’s Health Ministry says.
Periscope International reports that Haniyeh had relocated from Gaza to Qatar since 2019, where he has been coordinating the group’s terrorist activities while in exile.