Ismail Haniyeh is the top leader of Hamas's political bureau and is one of the most senior officials in the organization, alongside Yahya Sinwar.
While Sinwar is Hamas's chief in Gaza, Haniyeh, along with the rest of Hamas's political leadership, is based in Doha, Qatar.
Hamas wants to see a permanent ceasefire while Israel wants only a temporary one in the negotiations.
IDF decision-makers reportedly believed that as Israel is not close to having a deal with Hamas, such a move would not affect hostage negotiations.
The Iranian-aligned Lebanese outlet al-Mayadeen reported, citing Palestinian sources, that the strike had also killed several of Haniyeh's grandchildren.
Haniyeh said that the Islamist movement at war with Israel was sticking to its conditions for a ceasefire in Gaza, including an Israeli military withdrawal.
While tensions soar between Israel and Iran in the wake of the Gaza war and ensuing proxy battles across the Middle East, voices from within the Islamic regime call to support Israel.
Security forces found documents, media, phones, and other evidence indicating Haniyeh's involvement in serious security offenses.
Hamas believes that patience and perseverance will lead to victory in Gaza, and the Hamas leadership thinks it has growing international support while it has suffered no international consequences.
Gallant said that this juxtaposition of meetings and allegiances was "the clearest sign that there is a war going on between the free world and the axis which promotes terror."
UNRWA’s schools have consistently been found to use material directly inciting students to terrorism and antisemitism.
Haniyeh said that Hamas strives for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, and the introduction of humanitarian aid.