Following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran [1], Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei wasted no time in pointing fingers.
Khamenei declared Iran’s unequivocal duty to seek revenge against what he termed the “criminal and terrorist Zionist regime” for the attack.
“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our home and made us sad, but it also prepared a harsh punishment for itself,” Khamenei asserted on his website.
Seemingly glorifying the fallen Haniyeh, he stated, “Martyr Haniyeh was willing to sacrifice his honorable life in this dignified battle for many years. He was prepared for martyrdom and had sacrificed his children and loved ones on this path.”
The news of his death has plunged Iran into mourning, with three days of somber observance announced by the Iranian government.
BREAKING;
Iran raised the red flag of Revenge on the dome of the Jamkaran mosque. pic.twitter.com/8oM5pYC8s4 [2]
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) July 31, 2024 [3]
In response to the incident, Israel has maintained its silence, in line with its customary approach of neither confirming nor denying activities carried out by its Mossad intelligence agency.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a security briefing with top defense officials to assess the situation and has directed enhanced security measures for Jewish institutions worldwide.
Meanwhile, the United States has chimed in, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressing a readiness to mediate tensions while reaffirming America’s commitment to support Israel in the face of any aggression.
“If Israel is attacked, yes, we will we help Israel defend itself. We’ve been clear about that from the very beginning.”@SecDef [4] Lloyd Austin discusses whether the U.S. will help to defend Israel from Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/N7VPlM8h7l [5]
— Jewish Insider (@J_Insider) July 30, 2024 [6]
On the other side, a Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, denounced the killing as a desperate ploy by Israel, aiming to weaken Hamas and its resolve but vowing that the attempt will ultimately prove futile.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri formally announced the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, saying that this “would not break” their will.
He added that the movement has remained despite Israel having killed many of its senior leaders in the past pic.twitter.com/9dF4dvl9Tn [7]— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 31, 2024 [8]