How Nitin Gadkari Met HAMAS Leader Ismail Haniyeh HOURS Before Assassination in Iran

At a book launch event in New Delhi last week, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari shared a surprising personal anecdote of meeting Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh mere hours before his assassination in Iran last year.

Representing India at PM Narendra Modi's request for the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Gadkari flew to Tehran, Iran, for a two day visit from 30-31 July.

The inauguration was attended by foreign dignitaries from over 70 countries, with some of them gathering in a small room for coffee before the 5 p.m. parliamentary ceremony.

Here, Gadkari noticed one man who, despite not being a head of state, was receiving extreme VIP treatment—walking ahead of the group along with Iran's Chief Justice and President.

Curious, he shook hands and inquired, only to realise the man was Hamas' political chief, Ismail Haniyeh.

Following the event, Gadkari returned to his hotel, dined, and slept. But, around 4 a.m. urgent knocking woke him, with the Indian ambassador insisting he depart immediately due to a "big mess."

Haniyeh, the powerful Hamas leader Gadkari met hours earlier, had been assassinated in his secure room. Details remained murky — there were speculations of a traced mobile phone, but no ideas as to how a missile or bomb may have been used to breach and target the hidden bungalow where Haniyeh was ensconced.

Gadkari's account underscored the audacious operation's mystery, occurring in a heavily guarded IRGC facility, highlighting vulnerabilities even for Iran's protected guests at a high-profile event such as a presidential inauguration.

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