‘Absolutely unacceptable political assassination’: World reacts to Hamas political chief Haniyeh’s killing in Iran

Hours after Palestinian militant group Hamas said that an Israeli strike in Tehran has killed its political leader Ismail Haniyeh, several countries across the world on Wednesday condemned the killing, terming it “heinous terrorist crime” and said it could further escalate tension in the Middle East.

However, Israel had a different take on the killing, saying “this is the right way to clean the world of this filth”.

Confirming the death earlier, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said it was a “direct targeting” of Haniyeh at his residence in the Iranian capital.

“The method used (for the killing) will be determined by our Iranian counterparts who are conducting investigations,” Nunu said in a statement.

“The occupation (Israel) is responsible for this attack and the United States also bears responsibility as well,” he added.

Here are some reactions to Haniyeh’s death:

• US: The White House has seen the reports of Haniyeh’s killing, a spokesperson said, but declined to immediately comment further. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said he does not think war in the Middle East is inevitable, but if Israel were to be attacked, the US would help defend it.

• Russia: Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov called Haniyeh’s killing “an absolutely unacceptable political assassination.” “This is an absolutely unacceptable political murder, and it will lead to further escalation of tensions,” said Bogdanov

• Turkey: The foreign ministry called the killing “despicable” and an “assassination.” Though it did not accuse Israel outright, it claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “has no intention of achieving peace,” and warned that if the world does not “take action to stop Israel, our region will face much larger conflicts.”

• Qatar: The Foreign Ministry of Qatar posted on their official X that they condemned in “the strongest terms the assassination of Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, and considers it a heinous crime, a dangerous escalation, and a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law.”

• Iran: “Haniyeh’s martyrdom in Tehran will strengthen the deep and unbreakable bond between Tehran, Palestine, and the resistance,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said, according to Iranian state media.

• Palestine: President Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned the assassination, describing it as “a cowardly act and a dangerous development”, according to a statement from the official Wafa news agency. The president also called on Palestinians to unite and “be patient and steadfast in the face of the Israeli occupation”.

• “This assassination is not only directed at the Palestinian resistance and Hamas, in particular, but it is also directed at Iran. Israel is on the verge of collapse, and its reactions reflect confusion and inability to achieve any of its goals. Israel is facing such resistance for the first time in its history,” said Muhammad al-Hindi, Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s deputy secretary-general

• Yemen rebels: The killing of Hamas’s political leader in an air strike in Tehran is a “heinous terrorist crime”, Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels said on Wednesday. “Targeting him is a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values,” Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, a member of the Huthis’ political bureau, posted on X.

• **Hamas: “**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,” said Sami Abu Zuhri, senior Hamas official. “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.”

• Israel: “This is the right way to clean the world of this filth. No more imaginary peace/surrender agreements. No more mercy. The iron hand that will strike them is the one that will bring peace and a little comfort and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who desire peace. Haniyeh’s death makes the world a little better,” Amichai Eliyahu, Israel’s minister of heritage