Global community reacts to Ismail Haniyeh's assassination, Hamas vows it 'will not go unanswered'

Ismail Haniyeh, a senior leader of the Hamas, was killed in what the group called "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence," in Iran early on Wednesday (July 31). The Palestinian militant group has vowed that the killing of the Palestinian movement's chief "will not go unanswered".

In a statement, Musa Abu Marzuk, a senior Hamas official, said that the killing of Ismail Haniyeh "will not go unanswered".

"The assassination of leader Ismail Haniyeh is a cowardly act and will not go unanswered," said the Hamas political bureau memberinastatement.

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US seeks tocool rising regional tensions

Trying to defuse tensions after the international condemnation, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that he did not think a wider war in the Middle East was inevitable.

"I don't think war is inevitable. I maintain that. I think there's always room and opportunities for diplomacy," he told reporters during a visit to the Philippines."

"We are going to give everything we can to make sure that we keep things from turning in to a broader conflict throughout the region."

When asked to verify details regarding the killing of Haniyeh, Austin responded, "I don't have any additional information to provide".

Hamas leaders react to Haniyeh's death

Confirming Haniyeh's death, the Hamas said that its leader was killed in "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran".

"Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of the new (Iranian) president," added the group.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, called the killing a "grave escalation," and said that"This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas and the will of our people and achieve fake goals. We confirm that this escalation will fail to achieve its objectives."

"Hamas is a concept and an institution and not persons. Hamas will continue on this path regardless of the sacrifices, and we are confidentofvictory," added Zuhri.

Iran's new president mourns Hamas leader's death

Mourning the assassination of Haniyeh, Iran's new PresidentMasoud Pezeshkian— for whose inauguration ceremony the Hamas leader was in Iran— said: "Today, dear Iran is mourning its sharer of sorrow and joy, the constant and proud companion of the path of resistance, the brave leader of the Palestinian resistance, the martyr of al-Quds, Haj Ismail Haniyeh. Yesterday I raised his victorious hand and today I have to bury him on my shoulders."

Other reactions

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the head of Yemen's Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, called the killing a "heinous terrorist crime" and said that it was "a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values."

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that Haniyeh's death was "an absolutely unacceptable political murder."

"It will lead to further escalation of tensions," he warned.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry offered its condolences "to the Palestinian people who have given hundreds of thousands of martyrs like Haniyeh in order to live in peace in their own homeland, under the roof of their own state."

"It has been revealed once again that the Netanyahu Government has no intention of achieving peace," it added, referring to the Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu government which the Hamas has blamed for the killing.

"This attack also aims to spread the war in Gaza to a regional level. If the international community does not take action to stop Israel, our region will face much greater conflicts," it further added.

Areepen Uttarasin, a Veteran Thai Politician and former Gaza hostage negotiator, said that "the assassination is very serious because it occurred in Iran."

"It shows that Hamas's opponents can strike anywhere. Assassinating the Hamas leader will make negotiations and de-escalation more difficult. Things will become more violent and the situation will worsen. It will not improve," he noted.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the assassination and said that his country was "highly concerned about the incident and firmly oppose and condemn the assassination."

"We are deeply concerned that this incident may lead to further destabilisation of the regional situation. China has always advocated resolving regional disputes through negotiation and dialogue. Gaza should achieve a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire as soon as possible to avoid further escalation of conflict and confrontation."

(With inputs from agencies)