Turkish main opposition leader condemns assassination of Hamas leader Haniyeh

ESKISEHIR, Türkiye

Türkiye's main opposition leader on Wednesday condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

"The killing of the Hamas leader is an act of violence, a murder. We do not condone it," Ozgur Ozel, head of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said in a statement during a visit to the central province of Eskisehir.

He indicated that the CHP condemns the state terrorism Israel is perpetrating against Palestine and said: "The attacks Hamas started in October saddened us all. Israeli forces killed 40,000 people under the pretext of 'innocent people were killed there, and we are retaliating.' And they still haven't stopped."

"Of course, those who applaud Netanyahu in the US are complicit in this massacre,” Ozel said about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the American Congress last week.

"Those who applaud a genocide criminal as well as murderer of children and women like Netanyahu, who is a criminal against humanity, who orders attacks on ambulances and hospitals, and fires upon people standing in line for bread, are responsible for the continuation of this violence," said Ozel.

"We are a political party that implements the testament of our founding leader: Peace at home, peace in the world,” he said. “We want peace in Palestine and Ukraine as well. We want peace wherever there is violence.”

"Wherever there is escalating tension, we want it resolved through diplomacy," he added.

The prominent Palestinian leader was targeted while he was in Iran, prompting widespread condemnation from many quarters.

Hamas announced early Wednesday that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in the Iranian capital.

Iranian state television also reported Haniyeh’s death, noting that an investigation is ongoing and results will be announced soon.

Israel has not commented on the assassination.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz