Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has expressed “deep sadness” over the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political bureau chief, by Israel in Iran.
“I learned with deep sadness that my dear brother Ismail Haniyeh was martyred in Iran,” Fidan stated. He noted that Haniyeh devoted his life to the Palestinian cause and to fostering peace and tranquility in Palestine.
Fidan highlighted Haniyeh’s recent efforts to achieve a ceasefire and praised his unwavering belief in peace, even after his family members were killed by Israel. “Ismail Haniyeh became a symbol of the glorious Palestinian resistance. His cherished memory will continue to inspire the just cause of the Palestinian people,” Fidan added.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also condemned the “heinous” assassination, criticizing Israel for its actions. “We extend our condolences to the Palestinian people who have lost hundreds of thousands of martyrs like Haniyeh in their struggle for peace in their own homeland,” the ministry’s statement said. It further accused the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of having no intention of achieving peace.
The statement warned that without international intervention, the region could face even larger conflicts. Türkiye affirmed its commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and warned that Haniyeh’s assassination could escalate the conflict beyond Gaza to a regional scale.
Hamas announced early Wednesday that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his residence in Tehran. Iranian state television also confirmed Haniyeh’s death and reported that an investigation is ongoing.
The Turkish Justice and Development (AK) Party also condemned the assassination. Omer Celik, the party’s Deputy Chairman and spokesperson, labeled the attack a “Zionist assassination.” He stated, “We condemn the killing of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, a leading figure in the Palestinian cause, in Tehran through a Zionist assassination.” Celik criticized the Netanyahu government as a network of genocide and massacre and declared that the Palestinian cause would ultimately overcome these acts of aggression.
