Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas, affirmed on Wednesday that martyr Ismail Haniyeh was not in a concealed or obscure location at the time of his assassination, emphasizing that this act should not be regarded as an intelligence triumph.

Al-Hayya noted that since the onset of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation, "Israel" attempted to isolate the Palestinian Resistance. However, they were taken aback to discover Haniyeh traveling between major world capitals. He highlighted that the martyr devoted his life to his faith and homeland, dying under exceptional circumstances, and affirmed that his people and nation will deeply mourn his loss.

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The Israeli regime, in response to its failure in its war on Gaza, is attempting to escalate tensions in the region, the senior Hamas official said. He remarked that "Israel's" actions, including targeting Lebanon and Iran, represent a "threat to the entire world." He asserted that the Resistance will ensure that Haniyeh's assassination is not left unpunished.

Al-Hayya revealed that the assassination was executed with a missile that directly struck martyr Haniyeh's residence and noted that they are awaiting the investigation of the Iranian authorities.

The Resistance official further emphasized that the successor to Haniyeh will continue to follow the same path and persist in the resistance. He assured the nation that Hamas and the Resistance are advancing with a clear strategy that remains steadfast, "regardless of the loss of one or even ten leaders."

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"Hamas' option ... is resistance and there is no other option," he said, pledging to the Palestinian people that their Resistance will continue on the path of following in the footsteps of the leaders and martyrs until liberation, and that "Palestine remains our political Qibla and Al-Aqsa Mosque our Qibla."

On the increasing Israeli aggression targeting the occupied West Bank, al-Hayya stated that the West Bank has been "handed over to extremist Zionists," emphasizing that "we have no option but to fight." He urged Palestinian factions to unite around the use of armed resistance as the only viable option.

Regarding negotiations, al-Hayya stated that Haniyeh was "the head of diplomacy, managing politics and providing guidance."

However, he emphasized that "the leadership of [Hamas] determines the course of negotiations." The deputy chief clarified that "when we express a desire to [end] the Israeli aggression, it is for the benefit of our people, not out of weakness." He also confirmed that Netanyahu introduced new conditions that obstructed the path to an agreement.

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Al-Hayya emphasized that no one desires a regional war, noting that the current instigators of conflict are those who ignited the region. He warned that "if the perpetrators of the assassination are not held accountable, the enemy will persist in its aggression elsewhere."

Lastly, he extended greetings to "the Islamic Resistance in Iraq" and other supporting fronts in Yemen and Lebanon, commending all those who confront the occupation and take a stand against it.