Beirut: Hours after the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran’s capital Tehran on Wednesday, the Palestinian Hamas group has accused Israel of being behind the attack, terming it a “grave escalation”. Hamas described Haniyeh as their “brother and leader” and alleged that he was killed in a “treacherous Zionist raid” in his residence, after attending the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president.
Israel has not responded to the incident yet, according to Reuters. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri mentioned that this assassination by the Israeli occupation of Haniyeh is a severe escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas. He also said that Hamas is a “concept and an institution and not persons,” adding that they are confident of victory.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the assassination, calling it a “cowardly act and dangerous development,” in a statement from the official Wafa news agency. He urged Palestinians to remain united, patient, and steadfast in the face of the Israeli occupation.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu, defend the action, asserting that it is part of a necessary effort to “clean the world from filth” and make the world a better place. “The iron hand that will strike them is the one that will bring peace and a little comfort and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who desire peace,” he stated.
This incident follows Israel’s claim of killing top Hezbollah commander allegedly responsible for a recent deadly attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
