A report by the New York Times claims that Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau, was killed by an "internal explosion caused by a bomb smuggled into his guesthouse months ago, not a missile."

The newspaper states that the bomb was detonated remotely and that the guesthouse, where Haniyeh was killed, is "managed and protected by Iran's Revolutionary Guard."

Early Wednesday, Hamas announced Haniyeh's assassination following a "cowardly Zionist attack" on his residence in Tehran. Haniyeh had attended the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president on Tuesday.

Iranian state television also confirmed Haniyeh's death in Tehran, stating that "an investigation is underway into the assassination and the results will be announced soon."

Hamas subsequently announced that official and public funeral ceremonies will be held for Haniyeh in Tehran on Thursday, before his body is transported to Doha for a funeral prayer and burial on Friday.

Haniyeh's assassination in the Iranian capital has drawn widespread condemnation from Arab and international countries, amid warnings of escalation in the Middle East.

Since its founding in 1987 to resist the occupation, Israel has assassinated several prominent Hamas leaders, including Sheikh Ahmed Yassin (founder), Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, Saleh al-Arouri, Ahmed al-Jabari, and Salah Shehadeh.

Haniyeh's assassination comes at a time when Israel, with US support, is waging a war on the Gaza Strip since October 7th, resulting in over 130,000 Palestinian casualties, mostly children and women, and more than 10,000 missing.