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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US Haniyeh Reax TV
HEADLINE: US denies involvement in killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh
TEASER: Haniyeh’s assassination while attending Iranian president’s inauguration in Tehran raises fears of Gaza war escalation
PUBLISHED: 7/31/2024, 12:33 pm
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Baragona, SV
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 2:48
VID APPROVED BY: Baragona
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO: ))
[[The United States said it was not involved in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an overnight strike in Tehran. Haniyeh is the second Iran-backed militant group leader assassinated this week, raising the possibility of escalation in the region. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has the story.]]
((Wide shot Haniyeh last appearance, AP 4509487)) ((NO Access PNN))
((NARRATOR))
Ismail Haniyeh was last seen alive attending the inauguration of
((Pezeshkian inauguration, AP 4509382)) ((NO Access PNN))
((NARRATOR))
Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, on July 30.
((Haniyeh close ups AFP V000_36766HK)) ((NO Access PNN))
((NARRATOR))
Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, an Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group, was killed in an airstrike the following day.
((Blinken walks in, Reuters Edit No: 3306))
((NARRATOR))
In Singapore, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Channel News Asia, the United States was “not aware of or involved in” Haniyeh’s assassination.
((Reuters Edit No: 3306))
((Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State))
“Well, of course, I've seen the reports. And all I can tell you right now is I think nothing takes away from the importance of, as I said a moment ago, getting to the ceasefire.”
((Haniyeh file, AFP V000_34MA33D)) ((NO Access PNN))
((NARRATOR))
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the assassination, but Israel has targeted Hamas leaders
((Wounded Gazans, AFP V000_367L79E))
((NARRATOR))
since the group’s October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
((Aftermath of strike, AFP V000_367V3WG))
((NARRATOR))
In April, an Israeli airstrike killed three of Haniyeh’s sons.
((Haniyeh and Khamenei, AFP V000_367W63F)) ((NO Access PNN))
((NARRATOR))
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who met with Haniyeh the day before he was killed, has vowed revenge. In a statement he said, quote,
((Khamenei GFX))
((NARRATOR))
“We consider it our duty to ask for the blood of our dear guest.”
((Establish Amani, AP 4509580))
((NARRATOR))
Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani also blamed the U.S.
((Radio: ...saying, “We know that the Americans usually guide and support the Zionists in such criminal acts.”))
((AP 4509580))
((Mojtaba Amani, Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon)) ((Farsi, need male ENglish VO))
“We know that the Americans usually guide and support the Zionists in such criminal acts.”
((Aftermath Beirut strike, AP 4509520))
((NARRATOR))
Haniyeh’s killing happened a day after Israel carried out a strike in Beirut that killed Fuad Shukr, commander of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group in Lebanon.
((Funeral for Golan Heights victims, AP 4509076))
((NARRATOR))
Israel holds the group responsible for a deadly attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights over the weekend.
((Protests in Iran, AP 4509553)) ((NO Access PNN))
UPSOUND: Allah Akbar
With fears of regional escalation rising, Western countries are urging restraint.
((Back time Austin, AP 4509499))
((NARRATOR))
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said war is not inevitable.
((AP 4509499))
((Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense))
“We’re going do everything we can to make sure that we keep things from turning into a broader conflict throughout the region.”
((Israeli army footage, AFP V000_366Y99U))
((NARRATOR))
Meanwhile, Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, as a cease-fire for hostage agreement remains elusive.
((Haniyeh file, AFP V000_34MA33D)) ((NO Access PNN))
((NARRATOR))
Qatar and Egypt, key mediators in the talks, said Haniyeh’s killing jeopardizes truce efforts.
((Blinken establish, AFP V000_36822FG))
((NARRATOR))
But Blinken declined to speculate.
((AFP V000_36822FG))
((Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State))
“We simply don't know. What I do know is the enduring imperative of getting the ceasefire. And what I do know is we'll continue to work at that every day.”
((Wounded Gazans after strike, AFP V000_366F3U8))
((NARRATOR))
Israel has killed more than 39,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities, which do not distinguish combatant and civilian casualties. The campaign is in retaliation for Hamas’ October 7th attack in which the militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and took more than 200 hostages.
Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, Washington.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 31, 2024 12:50 EDT
BylinePatsy Widakuswara
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
