Indonesia President slams Hamas chief's assassination as 'act of violence, murder'

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, on Thursday “strongly” condemned the assassination of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, calling it an “act of violence and murder”, Anadolu Agency reports.

“It is an act of violence and murder that cannot be tolerated, and it occurred within Iran’s sovereign territory,” Jokowi was quoted as saying by the daily, Jakarta Globe.

On Wednesday morning, Hamas and Iran announced the assassination of Haniyeh in an Israeli airstrike targeting his residence in Tehran, a day after he attended the inauguration of Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian.

Though Israel has remained silent about Haniyeh’s death, Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has hinted at Tel Aviv’s involvement in his assassination.

The Indonesian President emphasized that such actions within Iran’s sovereign territory are “unacceptable”.

READ: Haniyeh’s son: ‘My dad is not more precious than other Palestinians killed’

“I believe everyone, including Indonesia, condemns such violence and murder,” said Jokowi.

Japan calls for ‘prevention of escalation’

Meanwhile, Japan has called for an end to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East following Haniyeh’s assassination, a top government spokesman said.

“What is important is to avoid retaliatory attacks and de-escalate the situation,” Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said on Wednesday.

He added that Tokyo is “still currently verifying the facts”, but will make “full diplomatic efforts” to prevent the situation from worsening further.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since a 7 October, 2023 attack by Hamas.

At least 39,445 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 91,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

Nearly 10 months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on 6 May.

READ: Iran’s Khamenei leads funeral prayer for Haniyeh in Tehran