The OIC has blamed Israel for the attack that killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. It held Israel fully responsible for the “heinous attack” which it termed “a serious infringement” of Iran’s sovereignty….reports Asian Lite News
The recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh risks escalating tensions in the Middle East into a wider conflict, warned Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara, chair of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), at an extraordinary meeting of OIC foreign ministers.
Tangara emphasised that Haniyeh’s death could lead to a regional conflict, rather than quelling the Palestinian cause, and highlighted the need for justice and human rights for Palestinians.
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of nation states are fundamental principles underpinning the international order. Respecting these principles has profound implications and their violation equally carries significant consequences,” he said.
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha condemned Haniyeh’s killing and accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
Taha urged the UN Security Council to take measures to compel Israel to adhere to international law and cease its aggressive actions, which threaten regional and global peace and security. He stressed the importance of immediate cessation of Israeli aggression to avoid a full-scale regional war.
Taha also criticised the Israeli Knesset’s rejection of Palestinian statehood and the designation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as a terrorist organisation.
He called for increased political and financial support for UNRWA to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinian refugees. Taha advocated for international efforts to end Israeli occupation and achieve peace through a two-state solution, in line with international legitimacy resolutions.
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji, representing Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the meeting, echoed concerns over the escalating violence in Palestinian territories due to Israeli actions. He condemned Haniyeh’s assassination as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and a threat to regional peace.
Al-Khuraiji reiterated Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of Israeli attacks on civilians and its rejection of interference in the internal affairs of any state.
He called for the international community to hold Israeli forces accountable for their actions and supported efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state as per international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Iran and Palestine had called for the OIC meeting in Jeddah. Iran has vowed to retaliate, threatening a “harsh punishment” for Israel. However, the US and other Western nations have called for de-escalation, Al Jazeera reported. Haniyeh has been replaced by Hamas’s Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar.
Tensions in West Asia have escalated after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on July 31 that Ismail Haniyeh had been killed in an attack in Iran’s capital, Tehran.
Israel targets new Hamas chief
Israel intelligence is gathering maximum information from its network in Gaza on Yahya Sinwar, the newly anointed political head of the militant group, Hamas.
Sources said that Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, a hawk among the top leadership of the country, has renewed his earlier call to eliminate Sinwar.
According to the information available, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant met Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronan Bar and apprised them of the urgency to eliminate Sinwar at the earliest.
It may be recalled that Defence Minister Gallant had publicly called for the assassination of Yahya Sinwar and had said that the Israeli establishment would hunt down the dreaded Hamas leader at any cost.
The spokesperson of Israel Defence Forces (IDF ), Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a press statement after Sinwar was announced as the political head by Hamas said, “Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist, who is responsible for the most brutal terrorist attack in history — October 7th. There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and it is beside Mohammed Deif and the rest of the October 7th terrorists. That is the only place we’re preparing and intending for him.”
Israel had on August 1 publicly announced that it had killed Mohammed Deif, the military head of Hamas, and the statement of Hagari is a clear message that Israel will not rest till it eliminates Sinwar.
Sinwar, according to Israel is the man behind the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that led to the murder of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 people who were taken as hostages into Gaza. Of the kidnapped, 111 hostages are still in Gaza. The mortal remains of 39 hostages have also not been handed over.
Israel intelligence agencies have already reported that Yahya Sinwar was hiding in an underground tunnel network in either the Khan Younis area or the Rafah area and is surrounded by Israeli hostages.
Meanwhile, Israel has stepped up its defence systems for a probable Iranian attack following the killing of Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and that of Hezbollah military head Fuad Shukr in Beirut on August 1.
After the two back-to-back killings of the top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran has been mulling retaliation against Israel.
However, Iran International has reported that the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian met their supreme leader Ali Khamenei and apprised him that an attack on Israel would have a retaliation that could cripple the country’s economy.