S.Africa urges probe into Haniye assassination, decries Gaza situation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Aug 2024 09:12
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Hamas' leader martyr Ismail Haniyeh's assassination has prompted several nations to condemn his extrajudicial killing, as he is hailed for his long political career.

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The head of Hamas' Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh arrives at the Iranian parliament to attend the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, in Tehran, Iran, on July 30, 2024. (AP)

South Africa condemned "Israel's" assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, who led Hamas' Political Bureau, during his stay in Iran's capital, Tehran.

Pretoria stressed that the continuous targeting of civilians in Gaza and the assassination of martyr Haniyeh "will further spiral the already tense situation in the entire region."

"South Africa urges that a thorough investigation be conducted and calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid any acts that would escalate tensions in the particularly fragile region," the South African Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The Government expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Haniyeh family as well as to the leadership and people of Palestine," it added.

South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola was in Tehran on an official visit alongside a number of other world leaders, including martyr Haniyeh, to attend the inauguration of Iran's newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

#SAIranRelations🇿🇦🇮🇷 | The Minister of #DIRCO, Mr @RonaldLamola is in the Islamic Republic of Iran to attend the inauguration of the new President, H.E Masoud Pezeshkian, today, 30 July 2024. pic.twitter.com/hxkeKHyKuB
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) July 30, 2024

Haniyeh's assassination violates international law, undermines peace

"Such acts of extrajudicial killings violate international law and the principles of human rights, undermining global efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East," Lamola explained in the same statement.

"Any form of extrajudicial killing is a blatant violation of [interational law] principles and extra judicial killings of this nature have a destabilising effect. It is crucial that the perpetrators of such actions must be brought to justice," he underscored.

South Africa also pointed to the ongoing "9-month onslaught in Gaza," which has killed thousands of civilians and "created unspeakable manmade humanitarian catastrophe."

The African nation stressed that martyr Haniyeh's assassination came in this context, where he was also "an integral member of the [Palestinian] negotiating team, working with other countries to secure a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and bring the [war on Gaza] to an end."

Pretoria reiterated its calls for an urgent ceasefire, an end to impunity, an end to the genocide of Palestinians, an end to the aggression on Palestinians end the aggression, and an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Time for international community to reflect: Pakistan PM

As the world witnessed another atrocious Israeli crime, that violated both international law and the sovereignty of Iran, several nations took note of the act and condemned it.

This includes Pakistan, whose Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a national day of mourning in memory of Hamas' leader Haniyeh.

Sharif described the assassination as a "blatant violation of international law."

"Israel has trampled upon all international laws by committing this act," the prime minister explained while addressing lawmakers from his ruling alliance in Islamabad.

Criticizing the silence of the West on Haniyeh’s assassination, Sharif said the killing was a "test" for the so-called developed world.

"[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is committing blatant brutalities but the international community is observing a silence on them," he added.

Several political parties and factions in Pakistan announced demonstrations across the country to condemn the Israeli assassination of Haniyeh.

Malaysian officials will attend Haniyeh's funeral in Doha

Malaysia, one of the countries that received the leaders of the Palestinian Resistance who were exiled from occupied Palestine, will also send a delegation to attend the funeral of martyr Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Shamsul Anuar Bin Nasarah alongside a number of officials, will attend the continuation of Haniyeh's funeral procession, which started in Tehran and will end in his final resting place in Qatar on Friday.

Malaysia said that it stands in solidarity with Haniyeh's family members and the leadership and people of Palestine.

"The insufferable grief, unequivocal suffering and untold sacrifice of Palestinians are the epitome of the life of the martyred Ismail Haniyeh who had given his family, his life and his soul to the struggle for freedom, peace and justice towards realising a sovereign, independent Palestinian state," the Malaysian foreign minister stated.

The former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad acknowledged Haniyeh's political career, saying he was "soft-spoken" and "impressive".

"I felt great sadness and was also extremely angry when I received news on the assassination of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh," Mohamad said.

"A soft-spoken man, yet with the heart of a lion, Mr. Haniyeh's unrelenting quest in fighting for the liberation of Palestine against Israel's occupation is indeed something every freedom fighter should emulate," he added.

Today, the world mourns the loss of a prominent Palestinian leader, who held numerous key positions within the Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas. Ismail Haniyeh will be buried at the Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque in Qatar, marking the end of over three decades of steadfast Resistance against Israeli occupation.