World Leaders Denounce Killing Of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh

By Nabilah Saleh, Noor Azuki Fahme Ismail & Sitti Hadijah Mappeneding

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- The killing of Hamas leader and political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh has sparked widespread condemnation from leaders and officials around the world.

Hamas announced early Wednesday that its political bureau chief was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his residence in the Iranian capital, Tehran, according to international media reports.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said, "We condemn the assassination of Haniyeh and see a serious risk of expanding global concern and danger in the region."

In ISTANBUL, the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the "heinous" assassination, saying, "We extend our condolences to the Palestinian people who have sacrificed hundreds of thousands of martyrs like Haniyeh to live in peace in their homeland under the roof of their own state."

Haniyeh's assassination once again demonstrates that the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no intention of achieving peace, the statement added.

The ministry also warned that the region will face much larger conflicts if the international community does not take action to stop Israel.

"Turkiye will continue to support the just cause of the Palestinian people. Haniyeh's assassination aims to expand the conflict beyond Gaza to a regional scale" the statement added.

In RAMALLAH, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the act, labelling it a cowardly and dangerous development, and called on the Palestinian people to unite, be patient, and steadfast in the face of the Israeli occupation, as reported by the Palestine News Agency (WAFA).

The Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), Hussein al-Sheikh, has also firmly condemned the killing.

"We strongly denounce and condemn the assassination of the head of the Political Bureau, the national leader, Ismail Haniyeh. We consider it a cowardly act, which pushes us to remain more steadfast in the face of the occupation, and underscores the necessity of achieving the unity of the Palestinian forces and factions," he said in a post on X.

In MOSCOW, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Sputnik on Wednesday that the country considers the death of Haniyeh to be an example of absolutely unacceptable political assassination, which threatens further escalation in the region.

In BEIJING,  Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing strongly condemns the killing of Haniyeh.

"We are paying increased attention to the incident, strongly oppose and condemn the murder, and are deeply concerned that this incident could lead to greater instability of the situation in the region," Lin said.

In DOHA, the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its official account on the platform 'X', stated that “this murder and Israel's reckless behaviour in continuing to target civilians in Gaza will lead the region into a cycle of chaos and undermine the prospects for peace."

Qatar reiterated its “firm rejection of brutality, violence, and criminal acts, including political assassinations, regardless of motives and justifications."

It also extended condolences to the “leadership, personal associates, and family of the Hamas political bureau chief, as well as to the State of Palestine and its people."

In SANAA, political parties and coalitions in Yemen, in a statement, said that the Zionist entity, with its blatant crimes and violations, is undermining peace efforts.

“The Zionists have killed an individual who had mobilised the people and the nation for freedom. He was someone who had dedicated his entire life to contributing to this inevitable confrontation,” the statement, which was quoted by the Yemeni News Agency (SABA) said.

The statement also called for the establishment of an Islamic axis free from exploitation, betrayal, and normalisation.

In KABUL, Afghanistan has condemned Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh's assassination, and remembered his contribution to the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation.

"Martyr Ismail Haniyeh was a distinguished, wise, and resolute Palestinian leader who made significant sacrifices in his successful struggle and Jihad, fulfilling his commitment in this manner," the Afghan government said in a statement.

“Haniyeh has left behind a legacy of resistance, selflessness, patience, perseverance, struggle, and practical sacrifice for his followers,” it added.

The Palestinian leader was killed on Wednesday in Tehran, where he had attended President Masoud Pezeshkian's inauguration on Tuesday.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regards defending Hamas and the sacred land of Palestine as both an Islamic and humanitarian duty. We strongly condemn the atrocities, bombings, and genocide perpetrated by the Zionist regime against Palestinian Muslims as egregious crimes against humanity," the statement read.

In TEHRAN, Masoud Pezeshkian, who was just sworn in as Iran's ninth president, said the bond between Iran and Palestine will be stronger than before, and the path of resistance and defence of the oppressed will be pursued strongly than ever. 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity and make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly action,” he said on platform X.

Meanwhile, the US-based international media outlet CNN said on Wednesday that the White House is aware of reports of the killing of Hamas political bureau chief.

-- BERNAMA