Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran on Wednesday, the Palestinian group Hamas and Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said in separate statements.
The Islamist faction mourned the death of Haniyeh, who it said was killed in “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran”.
Hanieh attended Iran’s new president’s swearing in ceremony on Tuesday.
“Early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck, resulting in his and one of his body guards’ martyrdom. The cause is under investigation and will be announced soon,” the Revolutionary Guards said.
Reactions to assassination
Turkey condemns assassination of Hamas chief
Turkey condemned on Wednesday the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the Iranian capital, saying the attack aimed to spread the war in Gaza on a regional level.
“It has been revealed once again that the government of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu has no intention of achieving peace,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Russia calls killing of Hamas leader ‘unacceptable political murder’
The killing of Hamas’ chief political leader Ismail Haniyeh is “an absolutely unacceptable political murder”, a deputy Russian foreign minister told RIA state news agency on Wednesday.
“This is an absolutely unacceptable political murder, and it will lead to further escalation of tensions,” RIA cited Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying.
Palestinian president strongly condemns killing of Hamas chief
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned on Wednesday the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, state news agency WAFA reported.
Palestinian national and Islamic factions called for a general strike and mass demonstrations after Haniyeh’s killing.
“Haniyeh’s assassination will not go unpunished”
The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran is a “cowardly act that will not go unpunished”, Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV cited senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk as saying.
MOHAMMED ALI AL-HOUTHI, HEAD OF YEMEN’S HOUTHI SUPREME REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE:
“Targeting Ismail Haniyeh is a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values.”
SAMI ABU ZUHRI, SENIOR HAMAS OFFICIAL:
“This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas and the will of our people and achieve fake goals. We confirm that this escalation will fail to achieve its objectives.
“Hamas is a concept and an institution and not persons. Hamas will continue on this path regardless of the sacrifices and we are confident of victory.”
Source: Reuters
