Global reactions to Hamas leader Haniyeh’s assassination

Political leaders and officials condemned the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, following the Palestinian resistance group Hamas’ announcement early Wednesday that its political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his residence in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Palestine

Top Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the assassination of the head of the Hamas group’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, on Wednesday, calling it a “dangerous development.”

Abbas called on the Palestinian people “to unite, be patient, and be steadfast in the face of the Israeli occupation.”

The secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Hussein al-Sheikh, condemns Haniyeh’s killing and pushes the Palestinian people “to remain more steadfast in the face of the (Israeli) occupation and the necessity of achieving the unity of the Palestinian forces and factions.”

Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative party, mourns the killing of the Hamas leader by saying, “The Palestinian people today lost a brave patriot leader, known for his integrity and straightforwardness, and for his honest care for national unity.”

Türkiye

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned on Wednesday the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

It was “a despicable attempt to undermine the Palestinian cause, the glorious resistance of Gaza, and the rightful struggle of our Palestinian brothers, aiming to demoralize, intimidate, and suppress them,” he added.

Erdogan emphasized that this assassination mirrors previous attacks on Palestinian figures like Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdul Aziz al-Rantisi, asserting that “Zionist barbarism will once again fail to achieve its goals.”

He called for a united stance from the Islamic world to end the oppression in Gaza and reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to supporting the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Erdogan concluded with a prayer for Haniyeh, extending condolences to his family and the Palestinian people.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed “deep sorrow” on Wednesday over the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

“I learned with deep sadness that my dear brother Ismail Haniyeh was martyred in Iran,” Fidan said on X.

“We are witnesses to his recent efforts to achieve a cease-fire. Even when his family members were killed by Israel, he never lost his faith in peace,” Fidan said, conveying his condolences.

Describing Haniyeh as a “symbol” of Palestinian resistance, Fidan said the Hamas chief’s “noble memory will live on in the just cause of the Palestinian people.”

Iran

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hailed Haniyeh as “a brave leader and distinguished Palestinian fighter,” adding that the resistance front is “in mourning.”

He stresses that Iran consider it a ‘duty to avenge his blood in this bitter and difficult incident that took place in the territory of the Islamic Republic’

“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our house and made us mourn, but it has also prepared the ground for severe punishment for itself’,’ Khamenei added

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday vowed to make the “occupiers regret their cowardly act” of assassinating Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau.

“The bond between the proud nations of Iran and Palestine will be stronger than ever, and the path of resistance and defense of the oppressed will be pursued more powerfully than ever before,” Pezeshkian said on X.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, honor, dignity, and pride, and will make the terrorist occupiers regret their cowardly act,” he added.

Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati’strongly’ condemned the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, considering it ”a serious threat that could expand the scope of global concern and danger in the region.”

Jordan

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry statement on X said the killing of the Hamas chief was “a violation of international law and humanitarian law,” describing it as an “escalatory crime” that will cause further tension and chaos in the region.

The statement added that ministry spokesman Sufyan Al-Qudah reaffirmed Jordan’s “firm stance” against violations of international law and state sovereignty, condemning political assassinations, terrorism, and violence, irrespective of their motives.

Qatar

Qatar condemned the assassination of Hamas’ political bureau head, Ismail Haniyeh, on Wednesday, fearing that it would escalate chaos in the region and dim the prospect of peace.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement, “condemned in the strongest terms the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh,” calling it “a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law.”

The statement added that Haniyeh’s assassination and the “reckless targeting of civilians in Gaza are likely to lead the region into chaos and undermine the chances of peace.”

Pakistan

In a statement, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry extended condolences to Haniyeh’s family and the people of Palestine.

“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings, irrespective of the motives,” said the ministry.

“We are deeply shocked by the timing of this reckless act, coinciding with the inauguration of the President of Iran, an event attended by several foreign dignitaries, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan,” it said.

Islamabad said they view with serious concern the growing Israeli adventurism in the region and its latest acts that constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region and that undermine efforts for peace.

Russia

Moscow condemned the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday, calling it an “unacceptable political murder” that will exacerbate regional tension.

“This is all very bad. This is an absolutely unacceptable political murder, and it will lead to further escalation of tensions,” Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Russia’s state-run news agency, RIA Novosti.

China

Beijing condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the slain political chief of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

“We firmly oppose and condemn any assassination or violent act, and we are deeply concerned about the potential increase in regional instability due to this incident,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said of Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced early Wednesday that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Israel has made no immediate announcement about the assassination.