‘Violation of international law’: Global reactions to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination

ISTANBUL

Political leaders and officials have reacted and condemned the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was targeted in an airstrike in Tehran in the early hours of Wednesday. The Palestinian resistance group said the attack was carried out by Israel.

Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated this morning

Reactions from Türkiye, Qatar, Jordan and other countries continue to pour in https://t.co/nk84hBqn8O

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) July 31, 2024

The Palestinian leader was killed as the building he was staying in was struck.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the assassination was a “dangerous development” and called on the Palestinian people "to unite, be patient and steadfast in the face of the Israeli occupation.”

Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said the killing pushes for “the necessity of achieving the unity of the Palestinian forces and factions."

Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative party, said “the Palestinian people lost a brave patriot leader, known for his integrity and straightforwardness, and for his honest care to national unity."

Türkiye

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Haniyeh’s assassination 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.”

Erdogan said the killing mirrors previous attacks on Palestinian figures such as 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 Türkiye’s commitment to supporting the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

"I pray for mercy from God for my martyred brother Ismail Haniyeh, patience for his family, and offer condolences to our brothers in Gaza, Palestine, and the Islamic world," he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also expressed his sadness.

"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," he added.

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."

"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',' he warned.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed to make the "occupiers regret their cowardly act.”

"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 said the killing is “a serious threat that could expand the scope of global concern and danger in the region.”

Jordan

Jordan's Foreign Ministry in a statement on X said the killing of 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.

Qatar

Qatar said the assassination could escalate chaos in the region and dim the prospects of peace.

Its 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."

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," it added.

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 it views 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, calling it an "unacceptable political murder" that will exacerbate regional tension.

Haniyeh's killing 'undermines attempts to establish peace in the region and could significantly destabilize an already tense situation,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

China

"We firmly oppose and condemn any assassination and violent act and we are deeply concerned about the potential increase in regional instability due to this incident," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Haniyeh's killing.

Malaysia

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the “murder” was “designed to derail ongoing talks” to end carnage in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7.

“It is patently clear that this could only have been carried out in an environment of utter impunity,” Anwar said, as he spoke to the leadership of the Palestinian resistance group to convey condolences.

“Only the heedless and unconscionable will not see the need to intensify pressure on Israel to stop their murderous rampage,” Anwar said.

The prime minister said his “detractors ... fail to appreciate Haniyeh’s profound desire for a peaceful Middle East and a Palestinian nation restored to its rightful dignity.”

Indonesia

Indonesia also condemned the assassination, fearing it could exacerbate the ongoing conflict.

"It constitutes a provocative action that could escalate conflicts in the region and derail the ongoing negotiation," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Australia

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said his country "definitely wants to ensure that we do not see an escalation" because the consequences would be "profound."

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the assassination and stressed that he would never condone such actions.

Afghanistan

The interim Taliban administration in Afghanistan condemned the assassination, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid describing him as a “distinguished, wise, and resolute Palestinian leader who made significant sacrifices in his successful struggle and jihad.”

Extending condolences to the family of Haniyeh and the leadership of Hamas, Mujahid said: "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regards defending Hamas and the sacred land of Palestine as both an Islamic and humanitarian duty."

Germany

Germany urged immediate de-escalation after Haniyeh's assassination. “It must now be a matter of keeping a cool head and doing everything possible to de-escalate, and the chance of a hostage agreement and a cease-fire in Gaza must not be squandered now,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer told a press briefing in Berlin.

Further diplomatic efforts are now needed to secure a truce and the release of Israeli hostages, he added.

“We call on all actors to exercise maximum restraint. The logic of mutual retaliation is a misguided approach,” he stressed.

Italy

“The situation is worrying, and we are working in order to avoid an escalation,” Italian Foreign Antonio Tajani said, according to state news agency ANSA.

“Israel has the right to defend itself but there must be no escalation,” he said.

Tajani said that his country is making efforts to prevent further escalation.

Switzerland

“Switzerland is deeply concerned about the high risks of escalation in the region,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry said on X.

It urged all actors to exercise the utmost restraint and to prioritize the diplomatic path to ease tensions.

UK

The UK reiterated concern over rising tensions in the Middle East, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defense Secretary John Healey traveling to the region to call for an end to the conflict in Gaza and de-escalation in the wider region.

"Escalation and destabilisation are in no one’s interests. It is absolutely vital that we engage closely with partners like Qatar, who play a key role in mediating the conflict in Gaza, so that we can bring this devastating war to an end," the foreign secretary said in the statement.

Lammy and Healy will also reiterate the UK’s support to Qatar for the country’s role, including efforts to deliver an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the statement added.

"De-escalation must be our primary focus as this region stands at a crossroads. The loss of innocent life in recent weeks and months is unbearable. This has to end," Healy said.

"All sides must step back from conflict and step-up diplomacy," he said, adding that they will work with partners like Qatar for a renewed push for peace.

Egypt

Egypt warned of the "repercussions of assassination policies, violations of sovereignty of other countries, and the fueling of conflict in the region."

The Foreign Ministry said the assassination coincided with a lack of progress in negotiations to reach a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

"This complicates the situation and shows the absence of Israeli political will for de-escalation and undermines the strenuous efforts of Egypt and its partners to stop the Gaza war," the ministry said.

Oman

Oman expressed its strong condemnation of Haniyeh’s assassination, calling it a "blatant violation of international and humanitarian law and a clear undermining of efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.”

Iraq

Iraq called the killing "an aggressive act, a flagrant violation of international laws and a threat to security and stability in the region."

Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo strongly condemned the assassination, calling it an “act of violence and murder.”

"It is an act of violence and murder that cannot be tolerated, and it occurred within Iran's sovereign territory," Jokowi was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Globe daily.

Japan

Japan has called for an end to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. "What is important is to avoid retaliatory attacks and deescalate the situation," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.

US

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on all parties in the Middle East to de-escalate tensions and urgently reach a cease-fire in Gaza. “As for the Middle East, the region is currently on the path to multiplying conflicts, violence, suffering and insecurity. It is essential to break this cycle, and that starts with a cease-fire that we are working on,” Blinken told a press conference in Mongolia.

Yemen

The leader of Yemen's Houthi group said Israel’s assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh “has elevated the battle to a wider scope,” the consequences of which will be severe for Tel Aviv.

Algeria

Amar Bendjama, Algeria's envoy to the UN, said: "We are on the precipice of a catastrophe," adding that Israel's attack was "an act of terror" that violated international law and the sovereignty of Iran.

"This is not merely an attack on one man. It is a vicious assault on the very foundations of diplomatic relations, the sanctity of state sovereignty and the principles that underpin our global order," he said.

Greece

Greece’s main opposition SYRIZA party urged international actors to immediately take initiatives for de-escalation in the Middle East amid heightened tensions.

“SYRIZA-PS expresses its strong concern about the unprecedented escalation in the Middle East following the actions in the Golan Heights, Beirut, and Tehran which threaten to ignite the wider region and calls on the international community to take immediately the necessary initiatives for direct de-escalation and the demonstration of the required self-restraint by all parties involved,” the party said in a statement.

Somalia

Somalia called the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh a violation of international law and strongly condemned the incident. “Somalia fears an escalating pace of violence that could lead to more violations against civilians,” the Foreign Ministry said. Mogadishu condemns political killings and violence “in all its forms, whatever its motives are,” it added.

Libya

"The Supreme Council of the State of Libya expresses its condolences over the martyrdom of the great mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement Hamas," an official statement said.

South Africa

Calling for a thorough investigation into Haniyeh's assassination, Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said: "Such acts of extrajudicial killings violate international law and the principles of human rights, undermining global efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East."

Tunisia

"We strongly condemn the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, one of the symbols of the Palestinian resistance, by the Zionist movement. This assassination of free voices demanding the liberation of Palestine is the result of the new approach of the Zionist movement against the Palestinian struggle," a Tunisian Foreign Ministry statement said.

Kuwait

"Kuwait is deeply concerned about the criminally irresponsible act committed by Israel," a Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry statement said, emphasizing that the attack in question is a clear and dangerous violation of the principles of international law, especially respect for the sovereignty of states.

Singapore

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Haniyeh's assassination jeopardized efforts for a cease-fire that would "facilitate the release of Israeli prisoners and humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza". Singapore is "extremely concerned" about developments in the Middle East it said and called on "all parties" to take de-escalation steps to prevent wider regional conflict.

Maldives

"The Maldives calls on all nations to respect international law and international humanitarian law and to work together to find an immediate and lasting solution to the Gaza crisis and to achieve peace and stability in the region," a Foreign Ministry statement said.