Condemnation continues over the assassination of Hamas political director Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, with Russia calling the operation an “unacceptable political crime.”
Russian news agency RIA quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying that “the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh is an unacceptable political murder that will lead to further escalation and heightened tensions.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Qanani said, “Haniyya’s martyrdom in Tehran will strengthen and deepen the close relationship between Tehran, Palestine and the resistance, and Haniya’s blood will not be shed in vain.”
Ankara also condemned the “depraved operation” that killed Haniya in the Iranian capital Tehran. “It has once again become clear that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has no intention of making peace,” a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry added that “this attack aims to escalate the war in Gaza to a regional level.” It added that “if the international community does not act to stop Israel, our region will face an even greater conflict.”
Qatar “condemned in the strongest terms the assassination of Haniya,” describing it as “a heinous crime, a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law.” It also said the incident and “Israel’s targeting of civilians in Gaza threaten to derail the region into violence and undermine any prospects for peace.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “strongly condemned the assassination of the great leader Ismail Haniyeh” and called it a “cowardly act and a dangerous development”, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. Abbas called on the Palestinian people and their armed forces to be united, patient and stand firm against the Israeli occupation.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also “strongly condemned the assassination of the head of the Hamas Political Bureau,” according to the Lebanese News Agency, adding that “we see in this act a serious risk of widening the scope of global concerns and risks in the region.”
Lebanese Hezbollah said the “martyrdom of its leader Ismail Haniyeh will increase the determination and stubbornness of the resistance to continue its jihadist path in all resistance arenas,” adding in a statement that “Haniyeh is one of the great resistance leaders who bravely stood up against the American hegemonic project and the Zionist occupation.”
In contrast, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Supreme Political Council of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, commented on Haniya’s martyrdom, describing the targeting of her as “a heinous terrorist crime and a blatant violation of the law and idealistic values.”
“The assassination of leader Ismail Haniyeh will only increase the steadfastness of the resistance,” said Mohammed al-Hindi, deputy secretary-general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, adding that “the response will be on the ground.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas announced that Haniyeh had been killed in a “treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran after he attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president.” Iranian state television also reported that Haniyeh had died in Tehran, saying that “an investigation into the assassination is underway” and that the results would be announced soon.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces have not made a statement on Haniya’s martyrdom, and when asked by Anadolu Agency whether they could confirm that Haniya was killed in an Israeli attack in Tehran, they said, “We do not comment on such reports.”
Haniyeh was last seen in Tehran on Tuesday evening at the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Fezeshkian, following talks the same day with Fezeshkian on political and local developments related to Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the movement.
