China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, calling the incident a violation of international norms and the UN Charter. Wang expressed deep concern over the assassination, which took place on July 31 in Tehran, Iran, warning that it has escalated tensions in an already volatile Middle East.
“The killing of Ismail Haniyeh violates the basic norms of international relations and leads to further escalation, pushing the region into a more dangerous situation,” Wang said. He emphasized that retaliatory actions only perpetuate a “vicious cycle” of violence, exacerbating the conflict.
Tensions have soared in the Middle East following the assassination of Haniyeh and the subsequent killing of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, Lebanon. While Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of orchestrating the attack on Haniyeh, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.
In response to the assassination, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has vowed “harsh punishment” for the attack on Iranian soil. Meanwhile, Hamas has named its Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar, as the new head of its political bureau.
During phone calls with his Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts on Tuesday, Wang Yi reiterated China’s firm opposition to the assassination, stating that it infringes upon Iran’s sovereignty and undermines ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
“This assassination violates the basic principles of the UN Charter,” Wang told Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. He stressed the importance of achieving a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Wang also criticized the lack of consistency in international responses to the Gaza conflict, urging that “there should be no double standards.” He highlighted the UN Security Council’s adoption of a ceasefire resolution in Gaza, noting that the conflict remains unresolved.
The ongoing violence in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians since the October 7, 2023, cross-border incursion by Hamas, which reportedly claimed 1,200 lives.
