Gaza live: Israel strike kills 30 Palestinians, mostly children

A report from the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese news site al Mayadeen cites an Iranian source claiming that the missile used to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was launched from outside Iran.

The source asserts that the missile was not fired from within the country.

This has not been officially confirmed by Iranian authorities.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that Washington will help Israel if it faces reprisals following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. 

Austin also claimed that the US is working to ease tensions in the region.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned the "heinous" assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, according to Anadolu news agency.

The ministry stated that Haniyeh's killing "once again shows that Israel’s Netanyahu government has no intention of achieving peace" and warned that the "region will face much larger conflicts if the international community does not intervene to stop Israel."

The Russian Foreign Ministry has described the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh as completely unacceptable political murder. 

“This is an absolutely unacceptable political murder, and it will lead to further escalation of tensions,” RIA cited Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying.

Last week the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Israel's war objective to destroy Hamas in Gaza as a precondition for a ceasefire is unachievable. 

“In my opinion, and many of my colleagues share this point of view, it is an unrealistic task to eradicate the organisation which exists, which has enough capabilities and enough support, including in the Muslim world,” said Lavrov. 

He also expressed support for the Palestinian cause and promised to “continue to help restore the Palestinian unity”.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council is holding an emergency meeting at the residence of the country's supreme leader, a rare event reserved for extraordinary circumstances, according to the New York Times.

Iranian sources report that the commander of the Quds Force, who oversees the network of militias aligned with Iran, is also present at the meeting.

The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau. 

"We strongly condemn the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh," said Abbas.

"This act is both cowardly and dangerous. I urge our people to unite, remain patient, and stand firm against the Israeli occupation," he added according to Wafa, the Palestinian news agency. 

The Israeli military has declined to comment on foreign media reports regarding the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, according to the AFP news agency.

The Israel army is responding to reports of a shooting attack near an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.

An Israeli man in his 50s was seriously wounded in the assault near Hebron in the occupied West Bank.

The attacker arrived by vehicle, shot at the car, and then stabbed the driver. Soldiers at the scene fired at the assailant, who fled. The Israeli army has launched a manhunt for the attacker.

According to Palestinian reports the attack happened minutes after the announcement of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas's political bureau, in Tehran.

Al-Aqsa TV in Palestine reported that there were widespread calls for a general strike and demonstrations across Palestine following the assassination of Hamas' political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

The White House announced that it is aware of reports indicating that Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran. So far it has not made any further comments. 

Israeli Minister of Heritage, Amichay Eliyahu,  praised the assassination of a Hamas leader, stating it "makes the world a little better."

In a post on X, he declared, "No mercy for these mortals."

Eliyahu added that the forceful action taken against them would bring peace, provide some comfort, and enhance the ability to "live in peace with those who desire peace,” he said.

Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, has been assassinated in Tehran, according to an official statement by Hamas.
 

Hamas said that Haniyeh "died as a result of a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran."

In another statement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard said that it would investigate the incident: "We are studying the dimensions of Haniyeh's martyrdom incident in Tehran."

Israel appears to be trying to close a window on the latest escalation with Hezbollah, saying it wants to prevent a wider war after taking credit for killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. 

“Hezbollah’s ongoing aggression and brutal attacks are dragging the people of Lebanon and the entire Middle East into a wider escalation,” Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

“While we prefer to resolve hostilities without a wider war," he added, Israel “is fully prepared for any scenario”.

The UN’s special coordinator for Lebanon has expressed concern after Israel launched a strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs that it said killed Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander.

"There is no such thing as a military solution," UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert warned in a statement.