Hamas leader still hopes to seek hostage deal despite 3 sons killed

Yahoo News quoted an article in a foreign news agency saying that Mr. Haniyeh emphasized that "the interests of the Palestinian people come first" when asked whether the attack would affect the negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

Israeli media reported on Thursday that the country’s armed forces carried out the attack on April 10 without the approval of top commanders or senior leaders. The airstrikes have raised concerns among the families of the hostages that the action will derail efforts to secure the release of the hostages from Gaza.

“I can only hope that this will not affect the negotiations,” said Ofri Bibas Levy, the brother of Yarden Bibas, who was captured with his wife and two young children in a raid in southern Israel in October 2023. “I hope that it will not lead Hamas to set more difficult conditions for the agreement.”

The Israeli government is facing increasing pressure from the families of the 133 Israeli hostages still believed to be held in the Gaza Strip. In addition, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing increasing criticism from the United States, its main ally, over its military campaign in Gaza and the rising death toll of Palestinian civilians.

Talks brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar have yet to make any significant progress.

“The key to any agreement must start with a permanent ceasefire,” Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said in a statement. “Our top priority in the negotiations is the unconditional return of the Palestinian people and the complete withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip. If that does not happen, there will be no agreement.”

For its part, Israel wants to secure the exchange of hostages but insists it will not end the war until Hamas is defeated. Israel is still planning an attack on the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinian civilians are sheltering.

Regarding the April 10 airstrike, Israel's Walla news agency reported that neither Netanyahu nor Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were informed in advance about the attack on Haniyeh's sons. The airstrike was coordinated by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet intelligence agency.

Quoting senior Israeli officials, the article said that Mr. Haniyeh's three sons, Amir, Mohammad and Hazem Haniyeh, were targeted in the attack and not killed because they are sons of the Hamas leader.

Meanwhile, the Israel Hayom daily newspaper quoted unnamed military officials as saying that the attack was carried out according to procedure. However, questions remain as to whether it was appropriate to attack such a sensitive target without first consulting with superiors.

The Israeli military has not commented on the information that Haniyeh's four grandchildren were also killed. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office has not yet commented on the incident.