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China condemns killing of Hamas leader Haniyeh, ‘deeply concerned’ about further turmoil
- Attack could derail recently brokered unity deal among 14 Palestinian factions, may have dealt devastating blow to Hamas, observers say
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Beijing has strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a strike in Tehran, warning that the killing could plunge the region into deeper chaos just a week after China helped to broker a Palestinian unity deal.
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Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday that Beijing strongly opposed the assassination of Haniyeh and was “deeply concerned” that the incident could lead to further turmoil in the region.
“China has always advocated resolving regional disputes through negotiation and dialogue,” Lin said.
He also repeated a call for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza to avoid further escalation of the conflict.
Hamas said on Wednesday that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he had been attending the inauguration of the country’s new president.
Haniyeh’s death is a major setback for Hamas and casts a shadow over future negotiations with Israel, as tensions escalate across the Middle East due to the devastating war in Gaza. Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for the assassination, but Israel has not yet officially commented.
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