Ismail Haniyeh killing: World reacts to assassination of Hamas' political chief

Following the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital of Tehran, many world leaders have condemned the assassination and warned that it could provoke further hostilities in the region.

While Israeli officials have yet to claim responsibility for the assassination, the Israeli government press office posted an image of Haniyeh on Facebook, with the word "eliminated" stamped across his forehead.  

The Qassam Brigades, Hamas' paramilitary forces in Gaza, has said the killing will "take the battle to new dimensions" and have “major repercussions”.

Haniyeh's funeral is set to take place in Tehran on Wednesday, with his burial expected in Doha, the capital of Qatar, later.

His killing casts doubts over the future of negotiations to end the war on Gaza, as Haniyeh was widely regarded as the main link between the group's political branch, which primarily operates in exile, and its military branch in Gaza.

Here is how some countries have reacted to Haniyeh’s assassination:

Palestine

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, Haniyeh's main political rival, described the killing as “cowardly” and a “serious escalation", and called for a day of mourning.

In the occupied West Bank,  Palestinian National and Islamic Forces have declared a general strike in response to the assassination. Streets across the West Bank are empty and businesses are shuttered in solidarity with Haniyeh.

In a statement, the coalition of Palestinian factions said the assassination "came in the framework of Zionist state terrorism and its war of extermination", adding that it "will not break the will and steadfastness of the Palestinian people, but will instead increase their determination and resolve to continue fighting for their rights and national principles until they achieve freedom and independence".

#فيديو | حدادًا على اغتيال القائد إسماعيل هنية، إضراب شامل في قرية العيساوية بالقدس المحتلة. pic.twitter.com/OsWxaDapaP

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) July 31, 2024

Translation: Mourning for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a total strike in the village of Essawiyah in occupied Jerusalem

Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative, said that the assassination "will not break the Palestinian resistance or the Palestinian people's determination to achieve our freedom", adding that the attack will escalate the situation.

"This is what Netanyahu wants. He knows that the end of this war is the end of his political career," he said.

Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a statement on Wednesday pledging “harsh punishment” for Israel, saying that it is now Iran’s “duty to avenge his blood for this grievous act that occurred on the soil of the Islamic Republic”.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also released a statement vowing that Iran and its allies would respond to the aggression.

Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged that Iran would “defend its territorial integrity, dignity, honour and pride, and will make the terrorist occupiers regret their cowardly act". 

According to Al Jazeera, Iranian officials also said the "United States bears responsibility in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran because of its support for Israel".

Tehran has declared three days of mourning following Haniyeh’s killing.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah

The Lebanese group Hezbollah said: "The martyrdom of commander Ismail Haniyeh will enhance the resolve and determination of resistance fighters across all arenas to continue the struggle."

"Haniyeh was one of the great resistance leaders who bravely opposed American hegemony and the Zionist occupation,” the group added.

Egypt

Egypt's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Haniyeh's assassination "indicates a lack of Israeli political will for de-escalation", adding that the attack could jeopardise ceasefire talks.

Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement condemning Israel’s “treacherous assassination” of Haniyeh.

"This assassination is a vileness that aims to disrupt the Palestinian cause, Gaza's noble resistance and our Palestinian siblings' rightful struggle to break the will of Palestinians, and to intimidate them," Erdogan said in a post on X. "However, just as until today, Zionist barbarism will not reach its goals."

The Turkish foreign ministry said that the attack was proof that Netanyahu's government “has no intention of achieving peace”. It warned that if the international community does not intervene to stop Israel, the region could tip into a much larger conflict.

Qatar

The prime minister of Qatar, which has acted as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, warned that the assassination could derail truce talks.

Political assassinations & continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side? Peace needs serious partners & a global stance against the disregard for human life.

— محمد بن عبدالرحمن (@MBA_AlThani_) July 31, 2024

"Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?" said Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in a post on X.

“Peace needs serious partners and a global stance against the disregard for human life,” he added.

Iraq

Baghdad issued a statement condemning the "aggressive operation" as a "flagrant violation of international laws" that posed "a serious threat to regional security and stability".

The foreign ministry added that it "expresses its full solidarity with the Palestinian people and their leadership in these difficult moments" and called on the international community "to assume its responsibilities and take the necessary measures to stop the repeated attacks and violations of the sovereignty of states".

Jordan

Jordan’s foreign ministry released a statement on X condemning Haniyeh’s killing as a “violation of international law and international humanitarian war that will push towards more tension and chaos in the region".

Yemen’s Houthis

​​Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Ansar Allah political bureau, described Haniyeh’s assassination as a “heinous terrorist crime” and “a flagrant violation of laws and moral values".

As supporters of the Palestinian cause, Houthi fighters in Yemen have been targeting shipping linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for months following Israel's onslaught in Gaza.

The Houthis have stated that their campaign will cease when Israel ends its war on Gaza.

United States

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has denied US involvement or prior knowledge of the assassination.

"This is something we were not aware of or involved in. It's very hard to speculate," Blinken said in an interview with Channel News Asia during a visit to Singapore, according to a transcript.

He reiterated that achieving a ceasefire in Gaza "is the enduring imperative".

Russia

Russia’s foreign ministry condemned the killing as "an unacceptable political murder", urging all parties “to exercise restraint” to avoid the outbreak of a major war.

"The region is currently balancing on the brink of a global conflict," said Andrei Nastasin, deputy spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry. "The parties continue to raise the stakes."

Malaysia

The Malaysian foreign ministry said in a statement that it “unequivocally condemns all acts of violence, including targeted assassinations”, and urged “all peace-loving nations to join in denouncing such action.

It added that Haniyeh’s assassination “underscores the urgent need for de-escalation and reinforces the necessity for all parties to engage in constructive dialogue and pursue peaceful resolutions".

Afghanistan

The Islamic Emirate issued a statement describing Haniyeh's assassination as a "crime" and a "significant loss for the Islamic nation".

It urged "influential parties, especially the Islamic and Arab world, to exert all efforts to stop the Zionists’ aggression and crimes in the region".

China

The Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement strongly opposing and condemning the assassination, expressing concern that the incident may lead to further instability in the region.