(Paris) Many indignant reactions, mostly from Hamas supporters in the Muslim world but also from China and Russia, followed the death of the political leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement, Ismail Haniyeh, killed Wednesday in a strike in Tehran. This death was confirmed by Hamas, which immediately attributed it to Israel.
Hamas
“The leader, Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran after his participation in the inauguration of the new Iranian president,” Hamas said in a statement. “The occupation (of Israel, editor’s note) is responsible for this attack and the United States also bears responsibility,” said a senior member of the movement, Taher al-Nounou, in the aftermath.
The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said there would be “huge consequences throughout the region.”
Iraq
Iraq on Wednesday condemned the assassination in Tehran of the leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement, Ismail Haniyeh, warning that it could destabilize the region.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry denounced in a statement a “flagrant violation of international law”. This assassination attributed to Israel “threatens the security and stability of the region”, it added.
Iran
-In Iran, President Massoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of killing Ismail Haniyeh, who came to attend his inauguration ceremony in the capital Tehran, and vowed to make him “regret” this “cowardly act.” “The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, its honor, its pride and its dignity, and will make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly act,” Mr. Pezeshkian said on X, paying tribute to a “courageous leader.” For his part, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed to inflict “severe punishment” on Israel. Three days of national mourning have been declared in Iran.
Qatar
Qatar, which hosts the Hamas political leadership that included Mr Haniyeh, condemned a “heinous crime” and warned of a “dangerous escalation” in the region. It denounced an “assassination” that constitutes “a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian law”, according to a statement from its foreign ministry. A key interlocutor of the Palestinian Islamist movement, Qatar has been involved for months, along with Egypt and the United States, in talks aimed at obtaining a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Call for strike in Palestinian territories
In the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, Palestinian movements called for a general strike in the Palestinian territories on Wednesday. “The Islamist movements of Palestine announce a general strike and angry marches” to protest against an “assassination of the great national leader” which “is part of the terrorism of the Zionist State (Israel, Editor’s note) and its war of extermination,” the Palestinian movements said in a joint statement.
Lebanon
-In Lebanon, Hezbollah denounced the assassination of Mr. Haniyeh and assured that it would “strengthen the determination” of the group and its allies to confront Israel. Hezbollah opened a front against Israel in southern Lebanon, in support of Hamas in Gaza, the day after the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement on Israeli soil on October 7 that triggered the war.
China
China, which has supported the Palestinian cause for decades, condemned the “assassination.” “We are very concerned about this incident, we strongly oppose and condemn this assassination,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian.
Russia
The Kremlin “strongly” condemned the attack. “We believe that such actions are directed against attempts to restore peace in the region and can significantly destabilize an already tense situation,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Türkiye
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “perfidious assassination” of his “brother”. “May God have mercy on my brother Ismail Haniyeh, who was martyred following this heinous attack,” he wrote on the social network X, denouncing “Zionist barbarity”.
Pakistan
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the “assassination” of the Hamas leader was an “irresponsible act” and constituted a “dangerous escalation in a volatile region.”
Syria
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said the death of the Hamas leader could “set the entire region ablaze.” “Syria denounces this blatant Zionist aggression and this serious attack on the sovereignty of the Iranian Islamic Republic,” it added in a statement.
Afghanistan
The Taliban government mourned “a great loss.” “He leaves the lessons of resistance, sacrifice, patience, tolerance…) and sacrifice to those who follow him,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid added on the social network X.