In a surprising turn of events, senior Israeli commanders and political leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were reportedly not consulted prior to a military strike that resulted in the deaths of three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Israeli media revealed that neither Netanyahu nor Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had been informed about the airstrike, which was carried out by the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet intelligence service.

According to the Walla news agency, which cited senior Israeli officials, the strike targeted Amir, Mohammad, and Hazem Haniyeh as fighters, rather than solely because they were the sons of the Hamas leader. Ismail Haniyeh, currently residing in exile in Qatar, has 13 children. Reports have also surfaced suggesting that four of Haniyeh's grandchildren may have also been killed in the attack, although the Israeli military has not confirmed these claims.

Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station confirmed the deaths, stating that the airstrike hit near the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Subsequently, footage aired on the station showed Haniyeh receiving the news while visiting wounded Palestinians in a Doha hospital. As he received the information, Haniyeh appeared somber, nodding and slowly leaving the room.

The killing of Haniyeh's relatives has introduced another complicating factor to negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza and securing the release of 133 Israeli hostages believed to still be in the besieged enclave. Haniyeh emphasized that Hamas has "clear and specific" demands for agreeing to any cessation of hostilities. These demands include an immediate end to the Israeli offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and permission for displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.

The strike on Haniyeh's sons occurred following a statement made by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in which he threatened action against Israel during a prayer ceremony and criticized the involvement of the United States and the West in the region. Khamenei vowed that Israel "will be punished," referring to a reported Israeli airstrike that destroyed Iran's consulate in Syria last month. In response to the threat, Netanyahu stated on Thursday that Israel is prepared to respond defensively and offensively to any potential Iranian strike.

Netanyahu, during a visit to Tel Nof Air Base, acknowledged the challenging times Israel is facing, with the ongoing conflict in Gaza continuing unabated. He declared, "However, we are also prepared for scenarios involving challenges in other sectors. We have determined a simple rule: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively."

As tensions escalate in the region, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the negotiations for a ceasefire and the overall security dynamics in the Middle East.