
Palestinian militant group Hamas has confirmed the death of its leader Ismail Haniyeh, stating that he was assassinated in the early this morning in Iran, drawing fears of wider escalation in a region shaken by Israel’s war in Gaza and a worsening conflict in Lebanon.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian reacting to the news said that it will defend its territorial integrity, dignity, honour, and pride, and will make the terrorist occupiers regret their cowardly act” of assassinating Haniyeh in Tehran.
Although, there was no immediate comment from Israel, but the Israeli military had earlier stated that it was conducting a situational assessment but had not issued any new security guidelines for civilians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing of Haniyeh and Palestinian factions in the occupied West Bank called for a general strike and mass demonstrations.
Meanwhile, China, Russia and Qatar, which has been brokering talks aimed at halting the fighting in Gaza, condemned Haniyeh’s killing as a dangerous escalation of the conflict.