The assassination of Palestinian group Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in an apparent Israeli strike in Tehran has raised the fears of further escalation and expansion of the conflict in the region. Haniye, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian, was killed in an Israeli raid on the building he was staying, according to Iranian officials and media. A bodyguard was also killed in the strike. Haniye’s assassination came hours after an Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital Beirut.
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also discussed situation in the Gaza Strip and the repercussions of the killing of Hamas political leader during his meetings with UK Foreign Secretary H E David Lammy, UK Defense Secretary H E John Healey, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt H E Dr. Badr Abdelatty in Doha yesterday.
Countries from across the region have slammed Israel’s aggression. Qatar called the assassination a heinous crime, a dangerous escalation, and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law. It said the assassination and reckless targeting of civilians will lead the region into chaos and undermine the chances of peace. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as well as various Palestinian factions also condemned the assassination.
Turkiye also condemned the attack and said the “assassination once again demonstrates that the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no intention of achieving peace.” Ankara called on the international community to act and stop Israeli aggression, which threatens to expand the war to a regional level.
Oman said Haniye’s killing would undermine the efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. It urged the international community to intervene urgently to punish the perpetrators of these crimes and political assassinations and to take immediate action to stop the Israeli genocide, the continued illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and the policy of killing, extremism, and abuse practiced against the defenseless Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the Occupied Jerusalem (Al Quds).
Israel has also continued its unrelenting bombardment of the Gaza Strip, killing at least 39,445 people since October 2023. The death toll includes more than 15,000 children, while tens of thousands are injured and thousands remain missing. At least 594 Palestinians have also been killed in the occupied West Bank during this period. TV broadcaster Al Jazeera said two of its journalists were also killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza yesterday.
It is time the international community acts and stops this genocide of the Palestinian people.
