Hamas announces death of leader in Tehran, says killing ‘will not go unpunished’

The Islamist group Hamas announced Wednesday the death of its leader Ismail Haniyeh in an attack it attributes to Israel in Tehran, where he was on an official visit, and said the death “will not go unpunished.”

“Brother Leader, Martyr Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the movement, was killed in a treacherous Zionist attack on his residence in Tehran after attending the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president,” Hamas confirmed in a statement.

Abdul Salam, the son of the Hamas leader, also assured that the Islamist movement’s resistance will not end with the “murder of its leaders.”

“We are in a revolution and in a continuous fight against the enemy, and resistance does not end with the killing of leaders,” Salam said, noting without elaborating that his father’s “wish” “has been fulfilled.”

Hezbollah also condemned the death of the political leader and guaranteed that this death will increase the “determination” of those fighting against Israel. “The assassination of leader Haniyeh will strengthen the determination and tenacity of the fighters in all areas of the resistance so that they can continue the path of jihad, and will strengthen their perseverance in confronting the Zionist enemy,” Hezbollah said.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) and countries including Iran, Turkey and Russia, Jordan, Lebanon and Serbia have also joined the chorus condemning the leader’s death. They say Ismail’s death endangers the region and could lead to an escalation of violence.

“This murder is a heinous act aimed at undermining the Palestinian cause, the noble resistance of Gaza and the legitimate struggle of our Palestinian brothers, breaking the will of the Palestinians and intimidating them,” Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry calls for restraint to prevent the Middle East from turning into a full-scale war.

China and Qatar also condemned the killing of Ismail Haniyeh.

“We are very concerned about this incident. We firmly oppose and condemn this killing,” said Chinese diplomat spokesman Lin Jian.

“The approach to political assassinations raises the question of how negotiations can be successful if one side kills the other’s negotiator?” asks the Qatari prime minister.

Yemen’s Houthis have said they are determined to support Hamas following the death of their political leader Ismail Haniyeh, which Turkey’s president described as a “treacherous assassination”.

Iraq also condemns Ismail’s death, calling it a “grave violation” and a threat to “regional security.”

Antony Blinken has responded to the death of the Hamas leader and said he has “learned not to speculate,” saying a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages is “vital.” It also said the US was not involved in or aware of the leader’s killing.

Since Ismail’s death, Egypt has argued that Israel’s escalation of the conflict shows a lack of political will to ease military tensions and says it is complicating negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The announcement of Haniyeh’s death was made by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on the country’s state television. The political leader’s funeral will be held in Tehran on Thursday and his body will later be taken to Doha, the Qatari capital, for prayers.