South Africa: Hamas chief's killing risks further escalation in Middle East

South Africa’s government, on Thursday, condemned the assassination of Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and said it risked plunging the Middle East into further turmoil, Reuters reports.

The attack in Iran’s capital, Tehran, was widely assumed to have been carried out by Israel, although its government has not commented. South Africa has been an outspoken opponent of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and likens the plight of Palestinians to that of its own Black population during the apartheid era – a comparison Israel rejects.

South Africa is concerned that the assassination of Dr Haniyeh and the continuous targeting of civilians in Gaza will further spiral the already tense situation in the entire region

the government’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement.

It conveyed its condolences to Haniyeh’s family and called for an investigation into his killing.

Haniyeh was the face of the Palestinian group’s international diplomacy and was involved in indirect talks aimed at agreeing a ceasefire to the conflict in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October.

Shortly after Israel launched its air and ground war in Gaza, then-South African Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, held a call with Haniyeh to discuss how to get humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

South Africa has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian statehood cause for decades. It brought a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice accusing it of genocide over its actions in Gaza, which Israel denies.

South Africa’s stance has made some Western allies uneasy, but it maintains that its support for Palestinians does not equate to support for Hamas, which is deemed a terrorist group by Western states and is sworn to destroying Israel.

Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s new Foreign Minister, said Haniyeh’s killing violated international law and undermined efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

It is crucial that the perpetrators of such actions must be brought to justice

he said in the statement.

READ: Palestinian pastor mourns Hamas leader Haniyeh