Gaza: The leader of the Palestinian Fatah party, Mahmoud Abbas, harshly criticized the attack, as reported by Palestinian news outlets.
"President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine strongly denounced the murder of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, labeling it as a cowardly move and a significant escalation," the Abbas administration stated.
"He called on the Palestinian people and their forces to come together, stay patient, and resist the Israeli occupation."
Before the recent signing of a peace agreement in China, Fatah and Hamas were bitter enemies. However, they have since agreed to work together. Abbas had dismissed Haniyeh from his position as Palestinian prime minister in 2007, but Haniyeh did not recognize this decision for several years.
Palestinian factions in the occupied West Bank have announced a general strike in response to Haniyeh's death.
"The national and Islamic factions in Palestine have declared a broad strike and protests to express their outrage over the assassination of the esteemed national leader Ismail Haniyeh, which was part of the Zionist state's terrorism and its campaign of extermination," they declared in a joint statement.
Although Hamas's influence was primarily in the Gaza Strip, it had support from other militant groups in the West Bank and has recently entered into a unity agreement with other factions, including its rival Fatah.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised severe retribution against Israel following the airstrike that killed Haniyeh.
"With this act, the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime has set the stage for severe punishment for itself, and it is our responsibility to seek justice for his death as he was martyred on Iranian soil," he stated in a statement reported by the official news agency IRNA.
At the same time, the newly elected President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, paid his respects to Haniyeh on social media, writing, "yesterday I laid his hand on him, and today I must lay him to rest."
Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Pezeshkian.
Without directly referring to Israel, Pezeshkian expressed regret for the act and stated that "the two proud nations of Iran and Palestine will emerge even stronger."
Qatar expresses outrage over 'grave offense' following the murder of Hamas leader
The Foreign Affairs Department of Qatar has expressed its deep sorrow over the demise of Haniyeh, describing it as a "grave offense." In a similar vein to other nations in the region, Doha has cautioned that the airstrike in Iran represents a "grave escalation" amidst escalating tensions throughout the Middle East.
The declaration further states, "this killing and the careless Israeli actions of persistently targeting civilians in Gaza will push the region towards turmoil and diminish the prospects for peace."
"The department reaffirms the stance of the State of Qatar against violence, terrorism, and criminal activities, including political assassinations, no matter the intentions or justifications," it emphasized.
A significant portion of Hamas's political elite, including Haniyeh, reside in exile in Qatar, a country that has welcomed them with the support of the United States since 2012.
China expresses alarm over the conflict intensification
Beijing has also joined the chorus in expressing alarm over the escalation of conflict, warning that the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran represents a dangerous step towards an all-out conflict.
"We are deeply troubled by the event and strongly oppose and denounce the assassination," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
"We are deeply worried that this event may trigger further instability in the regional situation," he added.
China has been seen as a mediator in the conflict, offering to facilitate talks between Palestinian and Israeli leaders for a ceasefire. It has also hosted a recent gathering where Hamas, which has governed Gaza, and Fatah, the governing body in the occupied West Bank, ended a decade-long conflict and signed a peace agreement.
