Israeli airstrike in Gaza kills 3 sons and 4 grandchildren of top Hamas leader

Three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip official Hamas media said. Four of the leader’s grandchildren were also killed.

Haniyeh confirmed the deaths in an interview with the Al Jazeera satellite channel, saying his sons “were martyred on the road to liberating Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Haniyeh’s sons are among the highest-profile figures to be killed in the war so far.

Israel said they were Hamas operatives, and Haniyeh accused Israel of acting in “the spirit of revenge and murder.”

“The enemy believes that by targeting the families of the leaders, it will push them to give up the demands of our people,” Haniyeh told the Al Jazeera satellite channel.

“Anyone who believes that targeting my sons will push Hamas to change its position is delusional,” he added.

The deaths threaten to strain the internationally mediated ceasefire talks, which appeared to gain steam in recent days even as the sides remain far apart on key issues.

Ismail Haniyeh lives in exile in Qatar, where Al Jazeera is based.

He said the killings would not pressure Hamas into softening its positions. The two sides have been involved in months of ceasefire talks.

Source » euronews.com