Abdüsselam Haniye, son of Hamas's former Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, told Anadolu Agency in an interview on the second anniversary of his father's martyrdom that more than 75 members of their family have been martyred in Israel's war of destruction on Gaza. He added that nearly 250 people from the Hac clan, to which the family belongs, have lost their lives.
Abdüsselam Haniye described Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership, as "the political backbone of the Palestinian people" and highlighted the importance of the mediation carried out by Egypt, Qatar and Turkey in implementing the ceasefire agreement.
A painful toll in front of a family photo
Standing in front of a large family photo hanging on the wall at the start of the interview, Abdüsselam Haniye recounted that some of those in the frame – his father, brothers and nephews – were martyred during the war. Ismail Haniyeh's three sons, Muhammad, Hazem and Amir, along with several grandchildren, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their vehicle in the Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City on April 10, 2024, the first day of Eid al-Fitr.
"There are more than 75 martyrs from the Haniyeh family," Abdüsselam Haniye said, adding that the number of martyrs from the Hac clan approached 250.
"He was a teacher, educator, compassionate father and friend"
Describing his father's personality at home, Abdüsselam Haniye said Ismail Haniyeh combined the roles of "teacher, educator, leader, compassionate father and friend." He noted that his father treated his children like friends and consulted them on everything. "His council at home was that of a teacher, educator, leader, compassionate father and friend," he said.
Abdüsselam Haniye said that after Ismail Haniyeh's death, the family missed his voice, smile, conversations and the Quran recitations they did together the most. Quoting a line of poetry, he said, "In the dark night, the full moon is missed."
"Be of the people and for the people" as a will
Abdüsselam Haniye stressed that one of his father's most important wills was that the family not detach itself from the Shati camp where they grew up and from the people. "He always willed us to be of the people and for the people, to stay in the camp with our family, neighbors, loved ones and our mosque, because people are our greatest capital in this world," he said.
Abdüsselam added that his father especially wanted care to be shown to his mother and extended family members, and that Ismail Haniyeh told his children he could die at any moment and urged them to uphold these principles after him.
Still present in Palestinians' lives two years on
Abdüsselam Haniye said that although two years have passed since his father's martyrdom, his presence continues in every aspect of Palestinian life. He cited the intense interest in commemoration events both inside and outside Palestine as proof, adding that these commemorations carry the message to future generations that the Palestinian people's march continues.
"Turkey is our political backbone under Erdoğan's leadership"
Emphasizing that Turkey has provided political and humanitarian support to the Palestinian people for years, Abdüsselam Haniye drew attention to President Erdoğan's political and media struggle with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Palestinian cause. "Turkey, under President Erdoğan's leadership, stands with the Palestinian people and is making every effort to end the Israeli occupation and establish a Palestinian state within the framework of international conventions and United Nations resolutions," he said.
"We feel that Turkey, under President Erdoğan's leadership, is a political backbone," Abdüsselam added.
The people's message must reach the level of political decision
Responding to a question about the adequacy of international efforts, Abdüsselam Haniye recalled that the world's peoples and freedom advocates have shown broad solidarity, and that European countries such as Spain – led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez – France and Britain have taken steps toward recognizing the Palestinian state. However, he stressed that popular movements and global solidarity must not remain mere expressions of stance but must reach the level of political decision-making.
"The message of the peoples must turn into a decision on the table of international political leaders to end the conflict, lift the occupation and establish the Palestinian state," Abdüsselam said, calling on European countries and the international community to stop the war in Gaza, end the Israeli occupation and prevent settler attacks.
Humanitarian devastation in Gaza
Touching on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Abdüsselam Haniye said that more than 1.8 million Palestinians are living in tents, that Israel controls more than 70 percent of Gaza, and that homes, hospitals, schools and infrastructure have suffered massive destruction.
Trust in the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey
Abdüsselam Haniye said they place great hope in the mediation efforts carried out by Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. Praising the efforts of the three countries, he said, "Egypt has a great role, Qatar has a great role, Turkey has a great role," and expressed hope that any agreement reached would bring hope, life, reconstruction and an end to the occupation.
These remarks came at a time when representatives of Hamas and Palestinian groups are holding talks with mediators on a roadmap for a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, weapons arrangements and the governance of Gaza. On Friday, the Peace Council and US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been reached to implement the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, with the council stating that Hamas had accepted a detailed roadmap.
Despite a ceasefire agreement being reached in Gaza on October 10, 2025, Israeli violations continued. In these violations, 1,222 people were killed and 4,053 injured. According to the latest data from the Gaza Health Ministry, the total death toll since October 2023 has reached 73,349, with 174,162 injured.
"Gaza's children must live like the world's children"
Addressing the people of Gaza at the end of the interview, Abdüsselam Haniye said, "We are from you, and you are from us." Recalling that more than 30,000 children have been martyred in the current war, he called on the world to stop the killing of children.
"The children of Gaza and Palestine have the right to build their future, receive education, hold hope and live in stability, just like other children in the world," Abdüsselam said, inviting every free person, Arab and Muslim to stand with the children, youth and women of Gaza.
