The international community was left stunned by the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on Wednesday. The killing comes at a critical time in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and prompted many countries to warn that it could trigger a wider regional war.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “harsh punishment” for Israel over Haniyeh’s killing in the capital Tehran. Newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran “will defend its territorial integrity, honor, pride, and dignity, and make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly action.”
Both Qatar and Türkiye condemned the killing, with Qatar’s Foreign Ministry calling it a “heinous crime” and Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denouncing it as a “perfidious assassination.” Egypt, the U.S., Germany, Russia, China, and other countries also expressed concerns and condemned the assassination.
Reactions from Around the World
Amidst the shock and condemnation, Hamas allies reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian resistance group. Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Afghanistan’s Taliban all mourned Haniyeh’s death. Pakistan and Malaysia also condemned the killing, emphasizing the need for de-escalation and peaceful resolutions.