Slain Hamas leader ‘central’ in October 7 bloodshed, Marles says

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the Hamas leader reportedly killed in Iran was “central” to the October 7 attacks on Israel.

Ismail Haniyeh, who was pulling Hamas’ strings from Iran, was key to the group’s brutal assault on Israel last year that killed approximately 1200 and sparked the Israeli incursion into Gaza.

Mr Marles said the Australian government was “aware” of the reports of his death.

“Let me firstly say that Hamas is a terrorist organisation,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“This individual was central to the activities which occurred on the seventh of October, actions we have consistently condemned.”

Mr Marles reiterated the Canberra’s call for a ceasefire “to end the catastrophe playing out in Middle East”.

“I think all of us look at what is occurring in the Middle East and want to see an end to the catastrophe playing out,” he said.

“We definitely want to ensure we do not see an escalation in what is playing out in the Middle East because the consequences of that would be profound.”

Haniyeh was killed at his residence in the Iranian capital Tehran early on Wednesday, Hamas said in a statement.

“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas mourns to our great Palestinian people, to the Arab and Islamic nation, and to all the free people of the world: Brother, leader, martyr, Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, who was killed in a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran,” Hamas said.



Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also confirmed the death of Haniyeh, but said it was still investigating the cause.

“Early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck, resulting in his and one of his bodyguards’ martyrdom,” the IRGC said in a statement.

“The cause is under investigation and will be announced soon.”

Israel has not yet commented on the death.