Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated early this morning, Wednesday, July 31st, in the Iranian capital. The news has elicited widespread and varied reactions around the world.
In its first statement following Haniyeh’s death, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) referred to him as a “martyr” and expressed condolences to Palestinian groups, including Hamas.
Hamas, in its initial response, confirmed Haniyeh’s death and called it a “treacherous assault,” attributing the assassination to Israel. Senior Hamas members, including Sami Abu Zuhri, implicitly blamed Israel for the attack on Haniyeh’s residence and emphasized that the act would not go unanswered.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the assassination as “cowardly” and strongly denounced it in his first reaction.
Meanwhile, the Iranian state news agency Tasnim reported that following the killing of the Hamas leader in Tehran, several nationwide calls for strikes and intensified actions against Israel have been issued in Palestine.
Israeli media have reported that in response to the assassination of Hamas’s political leader, the airspace over the occupied territories, including the flight path from al-Khader to Haifa and the northern regions, has been closed for 24 hours.
International Reactions
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh has triggered broad international responses. While many countries have not yet made official statements, officials worldwide have reacted to the news.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen were the first regional group to label Haniyeh’s assassination as a “terrorist crime” and reaffirmed their commitment to “liberating Jerusalem.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister provided an unofficial reaction, calling the attack on Haniyeh’s residence and his killing a “political assassination” and warning of escalating tensions in the region.
Although the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet issued an official response, several Israeli officials have expressed satisfaction at Haniyeh’s death. Amichai Eliyahu, Israel’s Minister of Culture, was the first high-ranking Israeli official to comment, stating on social media that “Haniyeh’s death makes the world a slightly better place.”
U.S. Representative Mike Waltz was the first American official to take Israel’s side in response to Haniyeh’s killing, noting that “even the IRGC couldn’t protect him (Haniyeh).”
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh has significantly impacted regional dynamics, inciting both regional and international reactions. The ongoing investigation and global responses will likely shape the future course of geopolitical relations and tensions in the Middle East.
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