Israel’s government has said little on the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, but the news of his death was welcomed by Israelis who saw it as a major achievement in the fight against the group, Reuters reports.

“Ismail Haniyeh eliminated in Tehran,” read an identical banner stamped on the near-nonstop news coverage by the country’s four leading television channels on Wednesday morning.

In much of Israel there was a mood of satisfaction, a day after Israel’s military said it killed one of the most senior leaders of Hezbollah in Beirut in retaliation for a deadly attack in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights.

 Ismail Haniyeh, then-prime minister of the Gaza government, at a Hamas rally in Gaza City on March 23, 2014. — Reuters/File
Ismail Haniyeh, then-prime minister of the Gaza government, at a Hamas rally in Gaza City on March 23, 2014. — Reuters/File

“This is an amazing achievement of intelligence linked to operations, that lead to the result,” Amos Gilad, a former senior defense official, said on Channel 12. “Regarding the performance we can say it was impressive, whoever carried it out.”

The government’s press office posted an image of Haniyeh on Facebook with the word “eliminated” pasted on his forehead.

A couple of junior ministers not part of the inner circle of security officials making strategic decisions took to social media to celebrate the operation, which Israel has not officially claimed.

Opinion

A changed world

A changed world

The phrase ‘security provider’ sounds impressive but there is little clarity on what it means for the country.

Editorial

Bannu attack
Updated 12 May, 2026

Bannu attack

The security narrative and strategy of the KP government diverges considerably from the state’s position.
Cotton crisis
12 May, 2026

Cotton crisis

PAKISTAN’S cotton economy is once again facing a crisis that exposes the country’s flawed agricultural and...
Buddhist heritage
12 May, 2026

Buddhist heritage

THE revival of Buddhist chants at the ancient Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila after nearly 1,500 years is much more ...
New regional order
Updated 11 May, 2026

New regional order

The fact is that the US has only one true security commitment in the Middle East — Israel.
A better start
11 May, 2026

A better start

THE first 1,000 days of a child’s life often shape decades to come. In Pakistan, where chronic malnutrition has...
Widening gap
11 May, 2026

Widening gap

PAKISTAN’S monthly trade deficit ballooned to $4.07bn last month, its highest level since June 2022, further...