Three sons and three grandchildren of the political leader of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, were killed in an Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Hamas sources in Beirut confirmed.
According to a report by the Shihab news agency, they were hit in a vehicle in the al-Shati refugee camp in the northern part of the coastal strip.
Haniyeh was quoted on a Hamas Telegram channel as saying he was "honoured" by what he termed "the martyrdom of [his] three children and some grandchildren."
"I thank God for this honour," he also said.
An Israeli army spokesman said the report was being examined.
The Hamas leader said the attack on his family is evidence of Israel’s "failure," Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera reported, adding that it will not change the group’s position in ongoing indirect ceasefire talks.
He stressed that Hamas would not withdraw its demands. "If they think that targeting my children at the peak of these talks before the movement’s response is submitted will cause Hamas to change its positions, they are delusional," Haniyeh said, referring to Israel.
Haniyeh, chairman of Hamas' politburo, has been living in Qatar with part of his family for years.
In the attack by Hamas and other Palestinian militants on the Israeli border area on October 7, which triggered the Gaza war, more than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 people were abducted to the Gaza Strip.
Israel subsequently said it wanted the targeted killing of the Hamas leadership.
According to the Hamas Ministry of the Interior, several of Haniyeh's relatives had already been killed in an Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip in October.