New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has revealed that he met former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran just hours before the Palestinian leader was assassinated. Speaking at a book launch event in New Delhi, Gadkari recounted the encounter which took place while he was in the Iranian capital to represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
"I went to Iran to represent India at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian," Gadkari said. He explained that prior to the ceremony, various heads of state and dignitaries had gathered informally for tea at a five-star hotel in Tehran.
"One person who was not a head of state was Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. I met with him. I saw him going to the swearing-in ceremony with the President and the Chief Justice," the minister recalled.
Gadkari stated that he returned to his hotel after the ceremony, only to be woken up by urgent news in the early hours of the morning. "Around 4 AM, the Indian Ambassador to Iran came to me and told me to leave immediately. I asked what happened, and he said the Hamas chief had been killed. I was shocked and asked how it happened. He said he didn't know yet," Gadkari added.
Ismail Haniyeh was killed around 1:15 AM on July 31, 2024, at a highly secure military compound run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), where he was staying. His bodyguard was also killed in the attack.
Reflecting on the incident, Gadkari noted that uncertainty still surrounds the specific details of the assassination. "Some say he was killed because he used a mobile phone. Others say it happened in a different way," he said.
Using the incident to discuss national security, Gadkari remarked that if a country is strong, no other nation can touch it. He cited Israel as an example, describing it as a small nation that has secured global influence through its technological expertise and military capabilities.