Qatar has strongly condemned the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas’ Political Bureau, who was fatally attacked in Tehran, Iran’s capital. Qatar stressed that this act and the reckless targeting of civilians could plunge the region into chaos and undermine the prospects for peace.
Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s president when the attack occurred. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the killing as a “heinous crime” and a breach of international and humanitarian law.
In an official statement, the Ministry said, “The State of Qatar strongly condemns the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Head of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in Tehran. This is a heinous crime, a dangerous escalation, and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law.”
The statement also emphasized that such acts of violence and the reckless targeting of civilians threaten regional stability and peace efforts. The Ministry reiterated Qatar’s firm stance against violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, including political assassinations, regardless of the motives or reasons. It expressed condolences to Haniyeh’s family, his companion, and the State of Palestine and its people.
Other nations have also condemned the killing. Pakistan issued a statement expressing condolences to Haniyeh’s family and the people of Palestine, emphasizing its stance against terrorism in all forms, including extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the assassination, describing it as a “heinous attack” and offering condolences to the Palestinian people. It criticized the Israeli government for allegedly lacking a commitment to peace and claimed that the attack aimed to escalate conflict in Gaza to a regional level. Turkey reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian people’s “just cause.”